Moreover, Cixi is very particular about the water for making tea. Ordinary boiled water won't do. Spring water must be used, and even the maid has to go to the leaves to pick up dew in the morning. According to "History of Qing Dynasty", Cixi gargled every day, and the maids went to wait on her. They calculated the time for Cixi to get up, and made tea at Cixi's side early. Cixi took a sip every day, then smoothed it in her mouth, and then spit it into another teacup, and the maids took it away. Then the ladies-in-waiting took out the brewed tea and put it in a bag to dry.
Because the tea used by Cixi for gargling is top-notch, it can fetch a good price only once. Moreover, perhaps Cixi can reward the ladies-in-waiting with some benefits when she is happy, no matter the benefits given by the emperor, the empress dowager and the sovereign nobles, it is definitely unusual.
In 276 years after the founding of the Qing Dynasty, as Manchu people, these royal families also had their own culture, especially drinking tea. Children of the Eight Banners are very strict about tea. It can be said that you don't have to eat rice, but you must drink tea. The tea drinking culture of the Qing emperor also influenced most of us Han people. Up to now, many of us are still keen on drinking tea.