Yunnan: The Chinese Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
This is a game for tea drinkers, people who would like to learn more about China, and food and beverage industry workers who would like to advance in their careers.
Items Needed to Organize Yunnan:
-The book Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais, and Hugo Américi
-Index cards – large and small
-notebook paper
-pens
-boxes of Chinese tea to be used as a prize for mastering all information
Yunnan Game Objectives:
1-Know the families of different teas and their characteristics
2-Know the main cultivars or cultivated varieties of tea grown in China
3-Know the process steps for the tea families that give them their final characteristics
4-Know the terroirs where tea is grown in China and be able to locate the region on a map
5-Know the most famous teas from the different regions
Game 1 – Tea Families Definition
All tea begins as a green leaf, but different processing methods produce teas with specific characteristic for flavor and medicinal value.
For this game, you will place the tea family name on the front of an index card and the definition of the tea family written in your own words on the back.
If you are unsure of a word’s pronunciation, use Google’s pronunciation feature (type the word followed by the word “pronunciation” in the Google search bar. A speaker icon will appear that you can tap to hear the pronunciation.)
Use the tea book mentioned in the materials section to look up the following tea families:
-white teas
-green teas
-yellow teas
-wulong teas
-black teas
-aged teas (learn the names of the specific teas they list as examples)
Game 2: China’s Main Cultivars or Cultivated Varieties of Tea Leaf
Cultivars or cultivated varieties are similar to varietals or grape varieties in wine making.
There are four main cultivars or tea varieties grown in China. For these cultivars, write the name on the front of an index card and 5 to 10 facts on the back to memorize about it, especially the terroirs or areas where it is grown in China.
The following four cultivars are the main ones grown in China:
-Fuding Da Bai
-Long Jing 43
-Tie Guan Yin
-Zhu Ye
Game 3: Know the Process Steps that Create the Different Tea Families
This game will require notebook paper to play.
First, note the tea family on the front of the notebook paper. Use the tea book in the materials section to note the number of process steps for each tea family. The number of steps differs to create the characteristics of each tea family.
Memorize the tea family and the number of process steps to make it. Then, use the tea book to list the tea family name of the front of a sheet of notebook paper. Next, list each process step name and a description of the process in your own words.
Finally, memorize the tea family name and the definition of each step used to make it.
Game 4: Know China’s Main Tea Terroirs
Use the map on page 42 of the print edition of the Tea book in the materials section to locate China’s main tea terroirs. Write the following regions down on index cards. On the back, note the main province and large cities in each region:
-Southwest Region
-Southeast Region
-South of the Yangzi Jiang River Region
-North of the Yangzi Jiang River Region
Game 5: Chinese Tea Types
Tea types are similar to different kinds of wine like Burgundy and Bordeaux.
For this game, you will need large index cards and a pen. On the front of the index card, note the tea type and on the back note the characteristics listed in the tea book. Learn a tea type and one characteristic at a time. Learn three tea types as a group before moving on to the next three.
Note the following characteristics for each tea type:
-tea family
-name translation
-alternative names
-harvest season
-cultivar
There are 12 tea types listed with 5 pieces of information for each tea. 5 x 12 makes 60 pieces of information to learn.
Game 6: Reward Drink some Chinese tea for mastering this game.
For cultural information, the following books provide a good introduction to Chinese food:
-Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, Francois Marchand, Jasmin Deshaun’s, and Hugo Americi
-The Food of China by E.N. Anderson
-Invitation to a Banquet by Fuchsia Dunlop
-Complete Chinese Cookbook by Ken Hom
I have written three blogs on Hong Kong’s tea lunch or dim sum that show one way that tea is used in Chinese culture:
Chicago Dim Sum
Millbrae Dim Sum (San Francisco Suburb) Dim Sum
Salinas, California Dim Sum
Northern and Southern Chinese Food Differences
Northern and Southern Chinese Food
Have fun learning about Chinese culture!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
