Chinese Tea Culture: 7 Fascinating Facts About Song Dynasty Tea That Inspired Matcha

On April 21, 2025, SN Mandarin students participated in a hands-on cultural activity focused on learning 点茶 (diǎn chá), the traditional Chinese method of tea whisking popular during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). This activity, held at the school in Shanghai, aimed to give students a better understanding of Chinese tea history and how tea was made in the past.

Tea is a significant part of daily life in China. Today, most people brew tea with loose leaves and hot water, but in the Song Dynasty, people made tea in a very different way. They used ground tea powder and mixed it with water by whisking it until it became foamy. This method is called 点茶. It is not as common today, but it was a standard way of preparing tea for hundreds of years in ancient China.

🧾 How Was Tea Made During the Song Dynasty?

During the activity, students learned the full process of how tea was made using the 点茶 method. The process required careful steps and attention to detail.

Here is how it works:

Crushing the Leaves – First, dry tea leaves were placed into a stone mortar and crushed until they became small and broken.
Grinding the Powder – The crushed leaves were then ground with a stone mill until they turned into a very fine powder.
Sifting – The powder was sifted through a fine screen to remove any large pieces and to make sure the texture was smooth and even.
Preparing the Tea Bowl – A tea bowl was rinsed and warmed with hot water to make sure the temperature was right and the bowl was clean.
Mixing the Paste – A small spoonful of the tea powder was placed into the bowl and mixed with a small amount of hot water to make a thick paste.
Whisking – More hot water was slowly added, and the mixture was whisked with a bamboo tool called a 茶筅 (cháxiǎn). This step is very important and is called 击拂 (jī fú). The goal is to whisk the tea quickly and evenly until foam forms on the top.
Repeating the Steps – This process of adding water and whisking is repeated around seven times, making sure the foam becomes thick and white. This foam is called 雪沫乳花 (xuě mò rǔ huā), which means “snowy foam” because it looks soft and light like snow.

This entire process usually takes several minutes and needs focus and patience. Each student had a chance to try out some of the steps themselves, especially whisking the tea.

🧘‍♂️ What Students Experienced During the Activity

The tea session was not just about watching a demonstration. Students got involved in different parts of the process, like grinding tea leaves and using the bamboo whisk. They were guided by a tea expert who explained each step clearly. Many students were surprised to learn how much effort went into preparing one bowl of tea.

To help create a calm and focused environment, soft classical Chinese music was played in the background. This made the atmosphere relaxing and helped students concentrate better on their tasks.

Some students found the whisking difficult at first. It takes practice to get the right speed and motion to make good foam. But with guidance, they improved quickly and were able to enjoy the final result — a warm bowl of freshly whisked tea.

“It was interesting to try something so different from how we usually make tea,” one student said. “Now I understand that there’s a lot more to tea than just boiling water.”

🍵 How This Method Connects to Today’s Tea Culture

Most people today in China brew tea by pouring hot water over loose leaves and letting it steep. But the 点茶 method from the Song Dynasty is the historical root of some modern tea practices, especially in Japan.

Japanese matcha culture and tea ceremonies came from Chinese tea practices like 点茶. During the Song Dynasty, tea culture was very influential, and this method of whisking powdered tea was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks. Over time, Japan developed its own style, but the basic idea of whisking powdered tea remains the same.

In recent years, more people in China have shown interest in learning about traditional tea-making techniques. There is now a small but growing community of tea lovers who are bringing back 点茶 and holding events like the one at SN Mandarin.

This interest shows that people want to connect with older ways of life, learn traditional skills, and understand more about China’s cultural history.

🏯 Why Was Tea Whisking Important in the Song Dynasty?

In the Song Dynasty, drinking tea was not just something people did quickly in their homes. It was often a social or artistic activity. People would get together and hold tea-whisking competitions, comparing the quality of their tea foam. Scholars and poets also took part in these events.

At that time, tea was closely connected with personal taste, social skills, and attention to detail. A good tea maker needed to be patient, skilled with their hands, and able to focus. It was not only about how the tea tasted, but also about how it looked and how it was made.

Even though this style of making tea is less common now, learning about it helps students understand how important tea was in the past — and how it shaped many other parts of Chinese life, such as art, music, and social gatherings.

👩‍🏫 What Students Gained from This Experience

This activity was not just about learning a skill. It gave students a way to connect what they’ve studied in the classroom with real Chinese traditions. For many, this was the first time they saw a stone tea grinder or used a bamboo whisk.

They also learned many new Chinese words, like 茶筅 (cháxiǎn), 点茶 (diǎn chá), and 雪沫乳花 (xuě mò rǔ huā), which helped build their vocabulary in a fun and useful way.

By being part of the whole process — from grinding the leaves to whisking the tea — students gained a full picture of how tea was made in the Song Dynasty and why it mattered to people at the time.

📣 What’s Next?

SN Mandarin plans to offer more cultural activities like this in the future. These sessions help students practice language skills, understand cultural traditions, and enjoy learning in a hands-on way. Whether it’s tea-making, calligraphy, or Chinese cooking, students can look forward to more experiences that make Chinese language and culture come to life.