Fun fact about shopping in Chengdu: It takes the gold medal on the podium for the city with the largest number of teahouses in China. By anyone’s admission, a considerable feat indeed. With locals devoted to this healing and restorative beverage, tea is not only a beverage but also a culture within a culture, woven into the daily lives of Chengdu people.
But that’s not all there is to know about Chengdu tea. Sichuan province is one of the places where tea plants originated. Zhuyeqing, a type of green tea produced in Mount E’mei, is one of the most famous teas in Chengdu and all of China. Zhuyeqing is treasured for its long-lasting fragrance, refreshing taste, and health benefits, and favored by locals and travelers alike.
Other famous Sichuan teas include Mengding Ganlu (green tea from Mengding Mountain), Qingcheng Xueya (green tea from Mount Qingcheng), Chuanhong Gongfu (black tea from Yibin), Ya’an Tibetan Tea (dark tea from Ya’an), and Qionglai Heicha (dark tea from Qionglai).
Perhaps the tea best known by Westerners, and always popular with locals, is Jasmine tea, which is green tea with Jasmine petals. Yet another easily transported (and light!) treasure to take home.