The Dragon Boat Festival is rich in customs, one of which is drinking Tea. There's a special tea for this occasion called Dragon Boat Tea, made from herbal decoctions. Green tea is healthy and nourishing; a fragrant cup can express care for family, blessings for friends, and introspection for oneself. Chinese culture values the exchange of gifts, and the history of tea-related rituals and culture is long and rich. In traditional Chinese festivals, tea is always present and indispensable.

Why drink tea on Dragon Boat Festival

The custom of drinking tea on Dragon Boat Festival originated with drinking realgar wine. In Hangzhou and Shaoxing, there is a folk saying that goes, “After drinking realgar wine, all diseases will stay far away.” According to modern medical science, the main component of realgar is arsenic sulfide, which has antibacterial and blood-sucking parasite expulsion properties. However, since realgar wine is extremely hot in nature, drinking it can lead to intense heat and discomfort, which must be alleviated by drinking strong tea. Typically, in larger households, a large pot of tea is prepared for the family to drink.

The tradition of drinking tea during the Dragon Boat Festival dates back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. During the festival, people would gather various herbs and store them at home for year-round consumption to promote health, beauty, relief from thirst, and protection against evil spirits. To carry forward the traditional Herbal tea-drinking culture, we have conducted in-depth research on the production process, combining traditional techniques with modern processing technologies to create a refined product. This ensures the retention of traditional flavors while enhancing its health benefits.

Eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) is a major custom during the Dragon Boat Festival. While delicious, zongzi can be hard to digest, especially when they contain ingredients like meat, red bean paste, and salted egg yolks. The high fat and protein content in some zongzi may cause digestive issues or exacerbate existing conditions. Many people choose to eat zongzi with a cup of tea to aid digestion. Additionally, as the summer heat follows the Dragon Boat Festival, it's a prime season for the spread of flu. Drinking tea regularly can help boost immunity and effectively fend off bacteria and viruses.

What Kinds of Tea Are Best for Dragon Boat Festival?

Zongzi is delightful but should not be consumed excessively due to its main ingredient, glutinous rice, being notoriously difficult to digest. Tea, the perfect accompaniment to zongzi, not only enhances its flavor but also aids in digestion and reduces greasiness. As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, after selecting your favorite type of zongzi, it's essential to choose the right tea to pair with it.

[Meat Zongzi]

Suitable: Pu'er Tea

Pu'er tea is excellent for reducing fat. It prevents increased blood viscosity from consuming foods high in fat, affecting circulation and putting extra strain on the heart.

[Salted Egg Yolk Zongzi]

Suitable: Oolong Tea

Oolong tea, a semi-fermented tea with a warm and soothing quality, complements the salty-sweet flavors beautifully.

[Sweet and Plain Zongzi]

Suitable: Green Tea

Green tea, being cool in nature, is particularly suitable for sweet and greasy zongzi. Green tea and peppermint tea can promote the metabolism of glucose, preventing excessive sugar from lingering in the body and potentially harming pancreatic function.