Tea tasting in Shanghai

It was during one of those casual day I took metro to people’s square. The busiest street in Shanghai full of people and shops I love to explore and somehow my fave since it reminds me of Rajiv Chowk in New Delhi. I had only stepped out of the station when two three girls approached me, ‘can you please take our pic?’ ‘oh sure’ I never deny such requests. And when I had clicked the apple screen capturing two pictures, my dormant cells in the brain send me a message.

‘English speaking chinese?!!’ I decipher the message after 67seconds of hearing their polite thank you. And the next step I knew was to stop them. They halt and here we begin the chat, a bit about respective native countries to their vacation plans in Shanghai. I was vomiting words and laughing like I've been waiting for this moment. You seldom find English speaking people here.

They had a plan to taste different teas from all over China.

It was 5mins walk from the people square. A little nervous a lot scared, in the name of my GOD i agree to join them. Solitary makes you take the risks.We reached a cubic room and were welcomed by two ladies dressed in red kimono. Though I was understanding nothing the new friends were translating everything to me regarding the tea making demonstration to its origin and the benefits of each tea.

A three legged toad was laid infront of us to be rubbed as a luck to get more money. I can simply steal it and rub it whole night.

To begin with there was six type of teas beautifully bottled in glass jars each with different health benefits and tastes.

West lake dragon well tea - oldest and most popular green tea and has been enjoyed in China for more than thousand years.

It is produced in mountaineous region of Longjing(Dragon well) which prevents anti-oxidation, anti aging, cancer and increase mental alertness.

Junshan Yinzhen- a famous yellow tea produced by dampening tea to dry naturally with flavour close to green and white teas. It is described a s high quality tea served to the emperor since yellow is the imperial color. It is produced in China's Hunan province and is good for stomach and weight loss.

Wulong Tea- also known as blue tea is thought to aid in fat decomposition and a beauty enhancer. Wenshan Baozhaong tea and Dongding Wulong are two brands of this popular tea.

Red tea- My favorite since the taste was more like candy lollipop with red sticky seeds coming in mouth. Good fr digestion, cooling, lower sugar level, strengthens heart.

Flower tea- the most amazing tea i have ever seen. it consists of a bundle of dried tea leaves wrapped around one or more dried flowers forming a ball. This ball is then put into boiling water and the bundle unfurls into a blooming flower. These are from the Yunnan province of China.