Herbal tea production technology has been passed down in the family for hundreds of years. During the "Cultural Revolution", although the herbal tea culture was severely damaged, not only did the herbal tea shop close, but there were few artifacts left, such as utensils, sites, relics, historical materials and photos, but it still lasted for a long time in Hong Kong and Macao. Lingnan Medicine Valley, Jiaduobao, Heqizheng, Guang Bei, Wanglaoji, Shangqingyin, Anfang, Jianshengtang, Denglao, Baiyun Mountain, Huang Zhenlong, Jinsai, Xuqixiu, Chunhetang, Golden Gourd, Xingqun, Runxintang, Shaxi, Lee, Qingxintang, Xinglinchun, Baoqingtang, Fuqingtang, Huang Fuxing, etc.
Herbal tea culture has a long history, wide popularity, recognized efficacy, strict inheritance and great hair effect, which makes it a "dark horse" of world drinks. In 2006, the sales of herbal tea in Chinese mainland surpassed that of Coca-Cola. In 2007, the production and sales volume reached 6 million tons, and the sales scope has covered the whole country and nearly 20 countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. With the rapid development of industry today, as an integral part of China herbal tea culture, it is of practical significance to protect and promote herbal tea culture.
By the end of 2005, herbal tea had been selected as a national intangible cultural heritage, and on May 28th, 2006, Guangdong herbal tea was successfully included in the first batch of intangible cultural protection heritage. As herbal tea is a branch of Chinese medicine culture and an important part of Lingnan food culture, the national mandatory standard for herbal tea is being studied, which will help to standardize the national herbal tea market. However, the survival of herbal tea culture is because there are thousands of herbal teas in the streets, and the state attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. Mandatory standards are debatable.
According to the different functions of herbal tea, herbal tea can be divided into four categories:
First, heat-clearing and detoxifying tea is mainly suitable for people with internal heat and heavy internal heat. The representative herbs are honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, gardenia, Huang Cen and so on. Suitable for drinking in spring, summer and autumn.
Secondly, Ganjie tea mainly treats exogenous wind-heat, cold and seasonal flu. The representative medicinal material is Radix Isatidis, which was sold at a sky-high price during the SARS period. This kind of tea is suitable for drinking in all seasons.
Third, the heat-clearing and moistening tea reminds me that this herbal tea is especially suitable for drinking in autumn and has a good medicinal effect on dry mouth and cough. Representative medicinal materials include Radix Adenophorae, Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati, Folium Tetrandrae, Winter Wheat and Tremella.
Fourth, heat-clearing and dampness-removing tea is used by Huang Chi and others, with heavy damp heat and big breath. The representative medicinal materials are honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, wormwood and Smilax glabra, which are suitable for drinking in summer.