Chinese royals enjoying tea (AI generated image by Gemini)

Throughout Chinese history, tea has not only been a drink of the common people but also a beloved treasure of emperors and empresses. Many rulers left their mark on tea culture, shaping how we enjoy it today. Let’s journey through dynasties and discover the teas that captivated Chinese royalty.

Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908, Qing Dynasty)

Few figures loom larger in late Qing history than Empress Dowager Cixi, the powerful matriarch who ruled from behind the throne. Among her refined tastes, she was particularly fond of Fuzhou Jasmine Green Tea.

Empress Dowager Cixi (image by Yu Xunling)

This tea, crafted by repeatedly scenting green tea with fresh jasmine blossoms, delivers a floral aroma that is enchanting yet never overwhelming. Cixi loved it for its balance — the fragrance of the jasmine flower without bitterness, layered atop the smooth green tea base.

Fun fact: Cixi was known for her extravagant banquets. Records say that she would sometimes demand over a hundred dishes to be prepared — yet her tea, delicate and simple, remained her most constant indulgence.

Emperor Qianlong (1711–1799, Qing Dynasty)

One of the longest-reigning emperors in Chinese history, Emperor Qianlong was a true patron of the arts, literature, and tea. He is most famously associated with Longjing (Dragon Well) Green Tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

Portrait of Emperor Qianlong

Qianlong adored its chestnut-like aroma, smooth sweetness, and refreshing clarity. He visited the Longjing tea fields by West Lake six times, often joining the harvest and praising the tea in his poetry. Legend even says he granted imperial protection to eighteen tea bushes near West Lake, which are still revered today as “imperial tea trees.”

Fun fact: An enduring tale tells of Qianlong pouring tea for his servant while traveling in disguise. The servant, unable to bow in public, tapped his fingers on the table in thanks - the very origin of the tea-tapping gesture still seen today in Chinese tea culture.

Emperor Kangxi (1654–1722, Qing Dynasty)

Grandfather of Qianlong, Emperor Kangxi was another monarch with a deep appreciation for tea. He is credited with giving Biluochun Green Tea its name.

Portrait of Emperor Kangxi

When visiting Suzhou, Kangxi sampled the local tea, which at the time was known by the rather inelegant name “Xia Sha Ren Xiang” (Frightening Fragrance). Amused yet impressed, Kangxi renamed it Biluochun (Green Snail Spring), a name that beautifully reflected the tea’s spring harvest and curled leaf shape.

Fun fact: Kangxi was one of the longest-reigning emperors in Chinese history, known for his intelligence and curiosity. His renaming of Biluochun shows not only his wit but also how much imperial endorsement could shape a tea’s reputation.

Emperor Huizong (1082–1135, Song Dynasty)

A lover of the arts and poetry, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty was also deeply passionate about tea. His favorite was White Tea, particularly prized for its elegance and purity.

Portrait of Emperor Huizong

Huizong even wrote an essay called “Daguan Chalun” (Treatise on Tea), where he detailed his refined standards for preparing and appreciating tea. He believed that white tea, with its silvery buds and delicate, mellow flavor, was the pinnacle of sophistication.

Fun fact: Despite his refined tastes, Huizong’s reign was marked by political turmoil, and he was eventually captured during the Jin invasion. Yet, his writings on tea remain a cultural treasure to this day.

The Epilogue

From the fragrance of jasmine to the purity of white tea, the elegance of Longjing, and the grace of Biluochun, the choices of China’s rulers reveal how tea was far more than a beverage - it was culture, poetry, and power in a cup. And while dynasties rose and fell, their favorite brews still live on, waiting to be savored by us today.