Five reasons why I made the Tea Documentary – A big story in a small teacup. For tea lovers, history buffs, and culture enthusiasts. You’ll be surprised by what’s in the tea leaves.
Hi, I’m Christy Hui, director of “TEA: The Drink That Changed The World” now streaming globally via Amazon, Tubi, Google Play/YouTube, and more.
People often ask me why I made the TEA Documentary. In this article, I’d like to share my tea journey and what drove me to produce this absorbing tea movie, a 90-minute documentary covering the epic history of tea, its evolving culture over the millennia.
So come along, and take a walk with me on my tea trail.
There’s something marvelous about tea.
Tea is a simple beverage with an extraordinary story. The ancient roots of Camellia sinensis (tea’s Latin name) reach far and deep, crossing oceans, connecting people, and changing history.
Tea knows no borders, no language gaps, no cultural divides. This TEA Documentary answers one big question:
Why Is Tea A Cup Of Humanity?
Did you know that all the tea thrown into Boston Harbor on Dec. 16, 1773, was from China? Two hundred and thirty-four (234) chests, two-thirds of the entire load, were Black tea from the Wuyi Mountains.
Background steeped in tea
Growing up in China, I watched my father drink Gongu Cha. So I love tea. In my adult years, tea became an obsession. I devoured countless books and other literature on tea and attended tea-tasting classes every Sunday for three years.
What’s my favorite tea? Oolong. I discovered this wonderful golden elixir on a business trip to Taiwan. Dong Ding Oolong was my go-to tea every afternoon, not only for its fragrance and taste but also because Oolong tea helps remove oil and grease after a heavy meal. It was my secret recipe to rein in a growing waistline after splurging on sumptuous meals in Asia. A tea enthusiast, I knew tea—or so I thought.
Tea enthusiast, Shocked
A few years ago, a friend asked if I knew what the world’s most expensive tea was. “A well-aged Pu-erh,” I replied, sure of myself.
My friend shook his head and continued, “The most expensive tea is Oolong tea. DA HONG PAO. It was sold at a Hong Kong auction for approximately $1,000 per gram. Only 20 grams were available. This Oolong tea is legendary in China.”
I was shocked. And driven to know more! When I returned home from the party, my first Google search was “DA HONG PAO.”
Secrets buried under the mountains.
Months later, I found myself on a flight bound for Shanghai, followed by a bullet train trip, which delivered me safely to the serene arms of the Wuyi Mountains—the Heart of Tea! Emerald tea fields filled my vision.
By the end of my seven-day trip, I learned that my favorite Dong Ding Oolong from Taiwan originated in Wuyi Shan. This discovery was a big surprise as I’ve been drinking Dong Ding Oolong for nearly 20 years. <What a Ding Dong!> Yet, I never knew its origin. For the first time, I realized the tea realm is bottomless, filled with history and mystery.
It turns out that the Wuyi Mountains are also the birthplace of the world’s legendary Black tea, Lapsang Souchong, aka Bohea tea. This very Black tea was thrown into the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party, which ignited the American Revolution.
Fill my teacup with research.
Research proved to be more daunting than I ever anticipated. After eight months of study, I found myself spinning down the rabbit hole into the vortex of tea. Like unraveling an onion, all of my previous tea knowledge barely prepared me for the endless layers that I found hidden inside the ancient karsts of Wuyi Mountains.
There were many ups and downs as I pieced together the ancient puzzle of tea. Endless layers of mysteries, crisscrossing thousands of years of Chinese history, three centuries of tea trade with Europe, culminating in the greatest tea raid by the British East India Company; how the infamous tea spy Robert Fortune (aptly named) slipped through the tightly guarded city ports to smuggle tea plants, tea seeds, and many tea-masters into India. This tea hunting story made a fantastic final chapter in the film. The research paid off!
So three years later, my learning boils down to this:
Tea is boundless and bottomless.
And this is why I love tea. Tea is a lifelong teacher. I learn something new about tea every day.
To wrap up, here are my top reasons why I made the Tea Documentary to share the incredible story of tea.
Five reasons why I made the TEA Documentary
- Share the illuminating, evolving culture of tea in China.
- Document the true story of tea’s epic journey from China to the West and how this drink changed world history and influenced cultures.
- Clarify tea history for the world and future generations. Next to water, tea is the most popular beverage on the planet. However, the history of tea and its origins are often misunderstood and misrepresented, even in prestigious museums.
The documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, provides a clear, factual, and complete history of tea, from its roots to its global expansion. - Spark a discussion within the tea community about scientific research on the health benefits of tea, particularly the impact of cultivation and the manufacturing process.
- Raise awareness about preserving our natural environment and improving best practices to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy a good cup of tea.
I hope you enjoy this tea documentary, and look forward to reading your review on Amazon 😍 🍵
Cheers!
~ Christy Hui
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Watch a short clip as Christy takes you behind the scenes of 9 DRAGONS TEA.
