The Tujia people primarily reside in the Wuling Mountain area spanning Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces. This region, renowned for its ancient trees, lush greenery, and scenic beauty described as 'fragrant grass and falling blossoms,' is one of China's tourist destinations. Due to its ecological suitability for tea cultivation, it has historically been an important production area for high-quality and famous teas. The beautiful mountains and tea are captivating, and for thousands of years, the Tujia people have passed down an ancient tea consumption method—drinking Leicha. Leicha, also known as Three Raw Ingredients Soup, is made by grinding and boiling three raw components: fresh tea leaves (plucked directly from the tree), ginger, and raw rice. Hence the name. Legend traces it back to the Three Kingdoms period when Zhang Fei's troops suffered from a plague in the hot summer. A local herbal doctor, impressed by their discipline, offered the ancestral secret recipe of Leicha, which cured the ill. Scientifically, tea refreshes and clears heat, ginger regulates the spleen and induces sweating, and rice nourishes the spleen and lungs, making Leicha a reasonable remedy. Over time, the ingredients have evolved. Modern Leicha often includes tea leaves, roasted peanuts, sesame, puffed rice, along with ginger, salt, pepper, etc. These are placed in a special pottery mortar and ground with a hardwood pestle. The mixture is then scooped into bowls, brewed with boiling water, and stirred. Some places skip grinding and directly steep the ingredients with freshly boiled water. Leicha is a Hakka tea snack for honored guests. The character '擂' means grinding. Basic ingredients include pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, black sesame, white sesame, peanuts, green tea leaves, and prepared rice ('mizai'). Mizai, rice processed through soaking, steaming, sun-drying, and frying, was developed for storage during migrations. The process involves grinding ingredients into a paste with added water, then diluting with boiling water. Sweet versions may add brown sugar and mizai; savory Hakka Leicha includes cilantro/basil and salt, served with dried shrimp, green bean powder, etc., offering a unique flavor. Making Leicha requires effort, and its ingredients aid digestion, improve eyesight, regulate organs, lower blood pressure, and benefit skin, thus also called 'health preservation tea.' It's often paired with Hakka rice cakes. Tujia people habitually drink Leicha, often before lunch. Some elders feel unwell without it. For guests, Leicha is served with light, crispy snacks like peanuts, potato chips, melon seeds, rice candy, and fried fish slices, enhancing the experience.