Expats enjoy picking tea leaves in Yixing

Over 30 expats took advantage of an opportunity to learn more about Chinese tea and enjoy the magnificent scenery of Yixing, the home of purple clay, on April 28.

This unique experience, entitled "Tea Plantations through the Eyes of Expats", allowed expats to participate in various outdoor activities, including a tea-picking activity, a tea-making primer and practice, a traditional tea ceremony, and many other hands-on activities.

Tea farmers demonstrated how to process the tea leaves with the tea leaves picked by expats. The tea leaves were steamed and "fried"(dried with hot air or pan-fried in a wok) until crisp. The expats were amazed at the process and wanted to give it a try themselves.

Expats enjoy Yixing tea after a tea-making expert showed them how to properly prepare the tea. [Photo/WeChat account: WuxiCityGuide]

Expats have a chance to practice their Chinese writing skills by writing the Chinese character for "tea". [Photo/WeChat account: WuxiCityGuide]

People head to the tea plantations in Yixing, where experts will teach them how to identify the tea leaves. [Photo/WeChat account: WuxiCityGuide]

Expats pick tea leaves at a tea plantation in Yixing, East China's Jiangsu province, on April 28. [Photo/WeChat account: WuxiCityGuide]

Yixing's tea farmers demonstrate how to process the tea leaves with the tea leaves picked by expats. [Photo/WeChat account: WuxiCityGuide]

Guided by tea farmers, expats try their hands at processing the leaves in a heated pot. [Photo/WeChat account: WuxiCityGuide]