Shanghai is home to some of China's most fascinating tea traditions - from historic tea houses to famous local varieties and time-honored brewing rituals.
Shanghai's morning tea tradition - exquisite dim sum served with Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea or pu'er. A social ritual that locals practice daily at famous restaurants.
Full name: Morning Tea Culture (早茶)
Hangzhou's famous Dragon Well green tea - available fresh in Shanghai's best tea houses. The flat, mellow leaves produce a distinctive chestnut aroma that Shanghai tea lovers cherish.
Full name: Dragon Well Tea (龙井茶)
The area around Nanjing Road has a concentration of traditional tea houses where Shanghai's elite gather for afternoon tea ceremonies. High-end tea houses serve rare teas in elegant Qing Dynasty settings.
Full name: Nanjing Road Tea Quarter (南京路茶区)
Shanghai has developed a culture of aging pu'er and collecting aged white tea. Premium aged pu'er cakes from the 1990s are served in exclusive Shanghai tea houses.
Full name: Aged Pu'er Tea (老普洱)
A unique Shanghai winter specialty - fermented rice pudding served in warm tea. Available at traditional dessert shops in the old town.
Full name: Sweet Fermented Rice Drink (酒酿茶)
Shanghai's nearby provinces produce famous green teas served in the city's traditional tea houses along with premium oolong varieties from Fujian.
Full name: Maojian Green Tea (毛尖茶)
The fascinating history behind Shanghai's tea culture
Shanghai's tea culture developed during the Treaty Port era when the city became China's gateway to the world. Western-style tea rooms mixed with traditional Chinese tea houses, creating Shanghai's unique fusion tea culture.
The 1920s-30s was the golden age of Shanghai tea houses - they were centers of journalism, literature, and business. The famous Gongfu Cha ceremony was refined during this period.
Shanghai has become China's most cosmopolitan tea city - traditional tea houses coexist with modern tea bars. Premium aged pu'er culture has taken root with serious collectors. New Shanghai tea museums have opened.
Our licensed English-speaking Shanghai guides can help you visit the best tea houses, understand tea ceremonies, and purchase authentic teas.
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