Enjoying tea is an integral part of Chinese life. However, tea-drinking customs vary throughout China. Scented tea, like jasmine tea, is popular in north China; people in the east prefer green tea while people in the south usually drink black tea.

Being one of life's daily necessities and considering its special healing effects, tea is a common ingredient used in folk remedies. For example, it is said that tea is good for elderly people or for people who are recovering from serious diseases. When such people present with fatigue, gastric and abdominal distention after meals, it is recommended that they drink old fermented tea for several days.