The Chinese people stress following the Doctrine of the Mean. To follow the Doctrine of the Mean does not mean to reconcile differences at the expense of sacrificing one’s principles or “mixing mud” or “bending with the wind.”
The flavor of green tea depends on the choice of the leaves used, the growing region and also the length of storage. A Chinese friend told me that I could “revive” tealeaves that have been stored too long by heating them in the oven for a while before brewing. This, when brewed, would result in a better cup of old tea.
Tea first became a beverage during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – A.D. 220), especially among scholars. Due to the increase in tea consumption at that time, tea rituals at the imperial court gradually developed. When the emperor invited scholars to a reception, he served tea as a sign of strong appreciation.