【明報專訊】The Smarties are dripping with sweat... they are drinking cold tea to cool themselves. Stay hydrated during summer!

◆Types

Chinese tea is classified into six types, namely green tea (綠茶), black tea (紅茶), oolong tea (青茶), white tea (白茶), yellow tea (黃茶) and Pu'er-type tea (黑茶). Tea leaves are classified according to the degree of fermentation. For instance, green tea such as Longjing (龍井) is unfermented, while oolong tea such as Tie Guanyin (鐵觀音) is partially fermented. (picture 1)

◆The trend

Taiwanese tea stores are mushrooming as summer heatwaves hit the streets. The bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) is made up of milk tea and chewy beads which are usually made of tapioca (木薯粉). Other ingredients are added to the list, making it a quick takeaway treat. (picture 2)

◆Did you know?

Tea tree oil is a common ingredient for skincare and cosmetic products because it can help alleviate pimples by killing bacteria that cause the symptoms. However, despite its name, tea tree oil is extracted from melaleuca plants (千層樹屬植物), which is different from Camellia sinensis (山茶樹), where tea leaves grow. (picture 3)

◆Check-in

Located inside Hong Kong Park, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (茶具文物館) exhibits an exquisite collection of traditional Chinese tea ware from different dynasties. You may also learn about tea tasting and history in various seminars and activities held there.

■Glossary

fermentation (n) 發酵

mushroom (v) 迅速增長

alleviate (v) 減輕

exquisite (adj) 精緻的、高雅的

[Smarties' Power English 第219期]