Photo: Xu Yaqi
By Christina Ann Ly
During the first week of April, Chinese language students from China Academy of Art’s Xiangshan Campus took a spring outing to Shenjia Tea Garden, where they had the chance to try their hand at picking tea leaves and savor local tea-infused dishes. Hangzhou is known for its Longjing tea, a green tea known for its delicate aroma and slightly grassy flavor, so many students eagerly signed up.
The sky was perfectly clear and the sun bright on the day of the outing. As we made our way from campus to the garden, it felt as if we had stepped out of the city and into the countryside. Row after row of tea bushes spread across the hills before us, and the gentle clucking of nearby chickens added to the rural charm.
After donning traditional hats and bamboo baskets, we made our way up the hills. At the top, the owner of Shenjia Tea Garden taught us how to select and pick the right leaves. The work passed quickly as we chatted, laughed, and enjoyed the fresh air. True to form, some of the art students took a break to sketch the scene--some drew plants, others each other. One student even completed an entire watercolor painting, capturing a lovely view of the garden.
While we waited for lunch, we sampled freshly brewed tea made by the staff. They had gathered our tea leaves and laid them out on a tarp to dry. Later, they would roast the leaves in a heated pan--by hand--to remove excess moisture.
Lunch was a feast: platters of tender meats and seafood, aromatic soups, and stir-fried vegetables. We also enjoyed a variety of tea-based dishes, including Longjing tea shrimp, sweet and sour pork, and crab with rice cakes. Every dish was flavorful and aromatic--even the stinky tofu! We ended the meal feeling full and content.
Visiting Shenjia Tea Garden was not only a lovely welcome to spring in Hangzhou, but also a window into Chinese culture. When in a foreign country, it’s important not only to learn the language, but also to immerse yourself in the local culture.