1. by Savitri Horrigan & Dad (Mr. Horrigan)

2. About Chinese Tea There are 600 types of tea plants and 3,000 varieties of tea. The tea plant is native to Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia.)

3. The Chinese monks brought tea to Japan and the rest of the world. Tea is known to calm people when stressed. Tea in China

4. Tea comes in many flavors such as green, yellow, red, mint and flower blossom. Tea is prepared by pouring hot water over dry tea leaves. Tea in China

5. Tea has been drunk in China since 3,000 BC. That’s nearly 5,000 years ago! The Chinese used to make tea into small bricks so that they could use tea instead of money for trading.

6. Tea is extremely important to the Chinese culture. The tea is often offered to guests. Tea is served at almost every meal. In China, the tea is drunk with out milk or sugar. Tea in China

7.  You can buy loose tea in a tea store. These stores are found all over China.

8. Many people in China are fond of Jasmine tea. This is how you write tea in Chinese. Tea in China

9. Tea ceremony The tea ceremony is led by a woman. She tells the guests about the types of tea. She explains how to drink the tea.

10. Tea ceremony She uses special tools to clean the tea pot.

11.  A tea set includes a special tray to collect spilled tea and water.

12. Tea ceremony The hostess warms the pots and cups by filling them with hot water.

13. Tea ceremony The tea is poured into a tall, slim cup. The guests pour the tea into a small round cup.

14. Tea ceremony After you pour the tea into the small cup, you can smell the flavor of the tea in the tall cup. The tea is drunk out of the small cup.

15.  After the ceremony, the guests will sit for many hours and drink tea and talk. Tea ceremony

16.  Teahouses You can listen to music in a teahouse.

17.  Teahouses Some tea houses are outside in gardens They are only open in the warm weather.

18.  Teahouses You can buy one cup of tea and drink it all day by adding hot water to the leaves. People like to eat sunflower seeds while they drink tea.

19.  Sources: 1. “ Tea”, Microsoft Encarta online http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti= 761563182 http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti= 761563182 2. “ The world of tea”, http://www.stashtea.com/http://www.stashtea.com/ 3. Interview with John Horrigan (dad) http://cms.westport.k12.ct.us/cmslmc/China/intro.htm http://cms.westport.k12.ct.us/cmslmc/China/intro.htm