The Hutong: Tasting Tour Through Maliandao Tea City

The Hutong's Maliandao Tea Tour

A community center on a mission to share Chinese culture and knowledge, The Hutong is offering one of Beijing's most comprehensive overviews of Chinese tea through their Maliandao Tea Market Tour.

Curious tea tasters are swept up on a journey through Beijing's Maliandao Tea City where fellow tea connoisseurs, amateurs, and thirsty friends are guided through five different tea shops that specialize in various tea regions and you are invited to taste your way through China's most famous teas and learn about tea oxidation, fermentation, processing and also their health benefits.

As you taste your way through each of the various types of tea, you are also given plenty of time to ask questions, shop and chat with knowledgeable native shop keepers.

Each of The Hutong's Tea Tours will be adjusted according to season and change focus to newly harvested teas, but the general schedule goes something like this:

• Shop #1: Green Teas – While tasting China's finest green teas, The Hutong's Tea Expert and the shop keeper address questions like: What Is "Tea?" What are the unique steps for processing Green Tea, like firing? How is flavored green tea like Jasmine created?

• Shop #2: White and Yellow Teas – While tasting some of China's lighter, more unique teas, guests explore questions like: What is the difference between Oxidation and Fermentation in Teas? How much caffeine and nutrients are in tea? What are Chinese Medicine views on Tea? What unique processes are used in processing White and Yellow Teas?

• Shop #3: Oolong and Black Teas – These more robust teas provide a background to discuss topics like: How are Oolong and Black teas processed differently than other teas? What is the difference between "rolling" and "cutting?" Why do the British drink tea like they do? How are teas like "Earl Grey" and "Irish Breakfast Tea" made?

• Shop #4: Ceramics and Herbal Teas – This stop on the tour will give guests an introduction to the periphery and paraphernalia of Chinese tea, introducing concepts like: Tea's Herbal Origins, Teapot Design, and Matching Teas and Teapots (and Tea Pets!)

• Shop #5: Pu'er and Post-Fermented Teas – To aid digestion, lunch is followed by an overview of one of China's oldest teas. The Hutong's Tea Expert and the shopkeeper discuss: Tea Shapes: Bricks, Cakes, Mushrooms, Bowls, Pumpkins, and More; The difference between ancient tea trees and little tea bushes; Fermentation and aging of tea; The health benefits of Pu'er, and more!

Taking place every other Sunday, the tours begin at 10AM at the D2 exit of the Changchunjie subway station and the tour also includes a lunch feast of authentic northwestern Fujianese delicacies – where many of the Fujianese shopkeepers themselves go for a taste of home.

The tour ends at around 3:30PM after a dialogue of open-ended discussions.

Snapshots of The Hutong's Maliandao Tea Tour:

The Hutong's Tea Tour Details:

• Date: Every other Sunday. Click here for The Hutong's calendar

• Time: 10AM start to 3:30PM

• Price: RMB 250 or RMB 200 (members) – price includes tea tour and lunch

• Location: Meet at the D2 exit of the Changchunjie subway station (map below)

• Website: Click here

• For an even more thorough introduction to Chinese life and culture, check out Welcome To Beijing Introductory Package.

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