Lufeng Salty Tea

Lufeng Salty Tea

Lufeng Salty Tea is an intangible cultural heritage of Lufeng City.

　　“Lufeng Salty Tea” — also known as salty tea (or ground tea) — is one of the traditional yet economical ways of warmly receiving guests in the old days. The preparation of Lufeng Salty Tea is unique: first, tea leaves are placed in a ya-bo (a specially made pottery bowl with serrated inner walls), moistened, and then pounded with a wooden pestle (about three feet long) made from hardwood such as pomegranate or lychee wood, stirring back and forth. Next, cooked peanuts, sesame seeds, mint leaves, and other ingredients are added to the ya-bo and ground into a paste-like consistency. A suitable amount of salt is added, and then boiling water is poured in to complete the tea — hence the name “ground tea.” Lufeng Salty Tea has a sweet, fragrant, and mellow taste, combining the aroma of tea leaves, the freshness of mint, as well as the crunchiness of fried rice, the crispness of peanuts, and the nuttiness of sesame. It is believed to have health benefits such as strengthening the spleen and stomach, and promoting longevity.