Ningshan Ground Tea

Ningshan Ground Tea

　　Ningshan, bordering Taojiang and Anhua, is an area with steep mountains, persistent fog, and high humidity all year round. The local ground tea has the effects of clearing heat, relieving summer fatigue, soothing the liver, regulating the intestines, and refreshing the mind. To cope with such weather conditions, the habit of eating ground tea has been maintained for many years.

　　The history of ground tea can be traced back a very long time. In Fujian, there is a legend that “Lei Daye, a resident of Jianyang County, was the first to make ground tea”; in Hunan, there is a story that “a plague struck Zhuge Liang’s troops marching into central Hunan, but an elderly woman made ground tea to cure the disease.” Relevant literary records also appear in some ancient texts. For example, Huang Sheng’s "Yulin Poetry Talks" includes a poem titled “The She People’s Cottage” which says: "By the roadside stand two or three humble homes, where visitors are greeted with freshly ground hemp tea. Their accents are getting closer to the Central Plains, so refined — they don’t even know the Huai River marks the end of the world."

　　This proves that grinding hemp seeds and brewing tea for guests was a custom in the Jiangnan region at the time. Furthermore, Mr. Wang Zengqi cites from "Ducheng Jisheng, Tea Houses" that “ground tea was also sold in winter” and “in the winter months, seven-treasure ground tea was added to the menu”; he also quotes the old saying “Hangzhou people eat thirty wen worth of wood a day,” indicating that during the Southern Song Dynasty when the court retreated south, the population was large, and ground tea was quite widespread—even requiring substantial amounts of wooden pestles daily.

　　How to Make Ningshan Ground Tea

　　First, place green tea leaves into a mortar and grind them with a pestle. Add a little cold water while grinding to lubricate and make the process easier. Then add sesame seeds and continue grinding. Once the tea leaves and sesame have turned into a paste, add peanuts and keep grinding until the peanuts are fully broken down. Then add ginger and pepper, and continue grinding until everything is blended into a smooth tea paste. The entire grinding process takes more than 15 minutes. Because it requires sustained force with both hands, one often ends up sweating profusely. Beginners may struggle to maintain even pressure and have to take frequent breaks after just two or three minutes. Experienced makers know how to control the force and can complete the process without switching hands.

　　During the grinding process, some of the pestle material also gets ground into the mortar, so it is essential to use edible wood—such as oil-tea camellia wood—for the pestle. Since the pestle's material is consumed along with the ground tea and other ingredients, it contributes to the overall effect of the "ground tea." The pestle is indispensable in making ground tea.

　　The prepared tea paste is then mixed with boiling water. If you prefer it sweet, add an appropriate amount of sugar; for a savory version, add salt. However, traditional ground tea is usually served salty. In this way, a fragrant, rich, and healthful bowl of ground tea is ready.

　　How to Eat Ningshan Ground Tea

　　1. Plain Tea: Simply scoop the tea broth into a medium-sized bowl without adding any other ingredients and drink it directly. It’s perfect for those who are tired from work, have sweated a lot, or simply want pure ground tea. This method delivers hot tea that quenches thirst instantly and refreshes both body and mind.

　　2. Tea with Add-ins: Scoop the tea into a bowl until it is about 70% full, then add toppings such as shelled roasted peanuts, fried beans, corn, and sesame. This delightful combination earns praise as a heavenly delicacy.

　　Benefits of Ningshan Ground Tea

　　Ground tea has multiple benefits: it clears heat and relieves summer fatigue, dispels cold and strengthens the spleen, soothes the liver and regulates the intestines, lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movements, nourishes the lungs and boosts qi, helps the spleen build muscle, regulates qi and harmonizes the middle, relieves cough and transforms phlegm, improves blood circulation, refreshes the mind, clears the heart and brightens the eyes, nourishes yin and strengthens yang. It also offers beauty-enhancing and health-preserving properties, suits all ages, is convenient to drink, and is a treasured beverage for home, travel, gifting, and hosting guests.

　　Ground tea has multiple uses. For example, adding a bit of pepper can help warm the middle burner and disperse cold, making it highly effective for those with cold stomachs, weak constitutions, or frequent nighttime urination.