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China Terms

Glossary of Chinese Tea Terms
Translated by: Luo Zhaohua

Terms used in the production of tea (China only)

Zhi cha guo cheng - Tea production stages

Cha Qing - "Natural Color Tea"; the first stage of production

• Cha Shu - Tea Tree
• Cha Ya - Tea Bud
• Cha Ye - Tea Leaf

Wei diao - Withering; the second stage of production

• Shi Wai Wei Diao - Withering Outside
• Shi Nei Wei Diao - Withering Inside
• Jing Zhi - "Gently Placing"; placing the leaves on drying racks
• Jiao Pan - Stirring and Separating
• Lang Qing - "Waving the Natural Color (tea); another name for Jiao Pan
• Zuo Qing - "Making the Natural Color (tea); another name for Jiao Pan
• Xi Bao - Cells
• Gan Si - Plasmolysis (cell dehydration)
• Shi Shui - "Failing the Water"; when cells in the leaf plasmolize too fast to oxidize
• Ji Shui - "Storing Water"; when cells cannot dehydrate properly
• Bao Shui - "Full of Water"; another name for Ji Shui

Fa Jiao - Oxidation; the third stage of production

• Yang - Oxygen
• Yang Hua - Oxidation

Sha Qing - "Killing the Natural Color"; the fourth stage of production

• Chao Qing - "Frying the Natural Color"; firing
• Zhen Qing - "Steaming the Natural Color"

Ro Nien - Kneading and Rolling; the fifth stage of production

• Ro Nien Ji - A rolling and kneading machine

Gan Sao - Drying; the sixth stage of production

• Zu Zhi Cha - Rough processed tea
• Mei Yung - "Beautiful Appearance"; refined tea, as opposed to rough processed tea
• Mao Cha - "Hair Tea"; another name for Zu Zhi Cha

Jing Zhi - Exact or Fine Production; the seventh stage of production

• Shai Fen - Sifting
• Qie Duan - Cutting
• Ba Geng - Picking out twigs
• Ba Xing - Another name for Ba Geng
• Cha Geng - Another name for Ba Geng
• Zheng Xing - Setting tea in mold
• Feng Xuan - "Wind Selection"; using wind to get rid of particulate matter, dust, etc.

Jia Gong - Additional Work; the optional eighth stage of production

• Pei Huo - Roasting
• Shan He - Scenting

Bao Zhuang - Packaging; the final stage of production

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