As the spring grass turns fresh and green once more, it's the most harmonious and clear time of year. During the Qingming period, all things in nature renew themselves, and the air is fresh and bright. In the misty drizzle, a gentle spring breeze blows, and willows sway gently.

The Qingming Festival is an ancient Chinese holiday, a time when people draw close to nature, seek out the joys of spring, and enjoy the clear and warm season. It is also a solemn occasion for tomb-sweeping and ancestor veneration, remembering those who have passed away.

On this day, people visit ancestral graves to pay their respects and remember loved ones. Some may plant a willow branch and listen quietly to the sound of paper kites in the wind, while others gaze at drifting clouds as they walk towards greener pastures.

People also go on spring outings and drink spring Tea, savoring a cup of pure and fragrant Qingming tea to express respect and remembrance for their ancestors.

This day, we fully experience the clarity and purity of the season, keeping memories of our ancestors alive in our hearts.

The Qingming Festival, a time-honored seasonal marker, has had a long-standing relationship with tea since ancient times.

Throughout history, Qingming and tea have together woven beautiful legends and stories, becoming a unique landscape in Chinese culture.

The Qingming Festival originated in ancient agrarian society and marks the fifth solar term of spring.

During this season, the earth warms up, and vegetation flourishes, making it a busy time for agricultural activities. Tea, one of China's important ancient crops, enters its golden growth period during this time.

Tea has always been a favorite among the Chinese.

From the legend of Shennong tasting hundreds of Herbs, tea has been closely linked with Chinese civilization. The Qingming season is especially ideal for tea tasting.

At this time, tea leaves, having rested through winter, absorb the essence of the earth, resulting in superior quality and a delicate fragrance. People venture outdoors to pick tea and enjoy the bounty of nature.

Self-reflection, expressing one's aspirations, meeting friends, hosting guests, paying homage to Buddha, and honoring ancestors—all are done through tea.

Unintentionally, tea has quietly integrated into our spiritual realm.

A cup of clear tea is indispensable during Qingming ancestor worship. Tea plays a significant role in Chinese sacrificial rituals and has a long history of use in such ceremonies.

When sweeping tombs and worshipping ancestors during Qingming, there is a custom of placing a packet of tea along with other offerings in front of the grave or pouring three cups of tea water as a tribute to the deceased.

Emperor Wu of the Southern Liang Dynasty, Xiao Yan, left a testament: “Do not offer sacrifices with animal flesh on my altar; only provide cakes, tea drinks, dry rice, and alcohol. This should be the standard for both the rich and the poor throughout the land.”

The ancients believed that tea was inherently pure and sacred, its aroma capable of reaching the divine and dispelling impurities, bringing blessings, peace, and well-being. Offering clear tea in sacrifice is a way of showing utmost respect and also a form of prayer.

Qingming and tea form an epic historical scroll spanning time and space. Together, they have witnessed the prosperity and development of Chinese culture, leaving us with invaluable spiritual treasures.

Let's Brew a pot of good tea during the Qingming Festival, savor its flavor, and appreciate the depth and richness of Tea culture, allowing poetry and history to intertwine in the aroma of tea.

After a spring rain, everything becomes clear and pure. Sip a mouthful of clear tea and take a bite of a green rice ball. Let the clarity and purity soothe your heart, allowing your body to purify itself. Amidst the gentle drizzle, savor the tea and contemplate your inner self, using tea to convey peaceful thoughts and let the spring tea express deep emotions.