Maidens' Tea

Maidens' Tea

　　The tea leaves used by the Bouyei people are all self-picked and self-processed. Sometimes they also go up the mountains to gather other plants that, like tea leaves, can be brewed in hot water for drinking. They then process these together with the tea leaves and add an herbal medicine called honeysuckle to create a blended tea. This mixed tea has a unique flavor—fragrant, mellow, and also known for its heat-clearing and refreshing effects. The brewed tea makes for a delightful beverage.

　　Among the teas made by the Bouyei people, there is one particularly distinctive and quite precious variety with a unique flavor—this is “Maidens’ Tea.” Maidens' Tea is meticulously prepared by unmarried Bouyei girls. The finished tea is not sold but is instead given as a gift to family and friends, or offered as a token of affection by the girl’s family to her suitor during courtship or engagement. It symbolizes the maiden's chastity and pure love through this refined and genuine tea.

　　In Bouyei households, people of all ages drink tea every day. Tea is the most common and essential beverage in their daily lives. The kettle on the stove is always steaming. They visit one another, serve tea, savor its flavors, chat about the past and present, and enjoy unrestrained familial warmth. Tea serves as the bond that connects and brings them together.