Complete Tea Names List

Tea Names List - list of tea names by type
May 5, 2022 39557 view(s)
Complete Tea Names List

There's a bit confusion these days with regards to the names of Chinese teas. Some teas are listed on websites based on direct English translations, while others are written based on 'pinyin' (Chinese written in Western letters). The latter becomes even more confusing when different romanisation systems are used for different teas such as Cantonese and Mandarin.

Take for example Tie Guan Yin, which is a type of oolong from Fujian province. It's known by it's English tea names such as 'Iron Buddha' or 'Iron Goddess' while at the same time known in different variations of romanisation such as 'Ti Kuan Yin', 'Tit Kwun Yum', and 'Ti Kwan Yin'.

Because of this issue, we've decided to compile a complete list of teas from China, categorised per tea type. As you can see below the list is long, which isn't surprising due to the long tea history of China. If you see any teas missing, let us know. We're more than happy to add it and further improve this tea names list.

Tea Type Names List

Click on one of the tea type links below to go directly to the list that you're interested in.

Green Tea - Black Tea - Oolong Tea - White Tea - Yellow Tea - Pu Erh Tea - Herbal Tea

Green Tea Name List

Among all the tea types, the list of Chinese green teas is definitely the longest. The most famous green teas come from the province Zhejiang and Anhui. The main stars in this category are the Xi Hu Long Jing, Bi Luo Chun and Huang Shan Mao Feng, which you see often appear in top 10 Chinese tea lists. We've also added the related English tea names, when available.

Official Name Alternative Spelling Western Name Pronunciation (Pinyin) Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional
Xi Hu Long Jing Lung Jeng (Cantonese)

 

West Lake Dragon Well Xīhú lóngjǐng 西湖龙井 西湖龍井
Hui Ming Cha   Purple Shoots, Hui Ming Spring huì míng chá 惠明茶 惠明茶
Bi Luo Chun Pi Lo Chun Green Snail Spring bìluóchūn 碧螺春 碧螺春
Gu Zhu Zi Sun   Purple Bamboo Shoot gù zhǔ zǐ sǔn 顾渚紫笋 顧渚紫筍
Huang Shan Mao Feng   Yellow Furry Peak huángshān máo fēng 黄山毛峰 黃山毛峰
Xin Yang Mao Jian   Xin Yang Downy peak xìnyáng máojiān 信阳毛尖 信陽毛尖
Ping Shui Zhu Cha Zhu Cha Gunpowder píngshuǐ zhū chá 平水珠茶 平水珠茶
Jing Shan Cha   Jing Mountain Tea jīng shānchá 京山茶 京山茶
Nan'an Shi Ting Lu   Stone Pavillion Green nán'ān shí tíng lǜ 南安石亭绿 南安石亭綠
Zhu Ye Qing   Bamboo Leaf Green, Green Bamboo Tip zhúyèqīng 竹叶青 竹葉青
Yong Xi Huo Qing   Yong Xi Green Fire, Yong Xi Jade Fire yǒng xī huǒ qīng 涌溪火青 湧溪火青
Xiu Ning Song Luo   Loose Radish xiū níng sōng luó 休宁松萝 休寧松蘿
Wang Hai Cha   Sea of Hope wànghǎi chá 望海茶 望海茶
En Shi Yu Lu   En Shi Gyokuro, En Shi Green Dew, En Shi Jade Dew ēnshī yùlù 恩施玉露 恩施玉露
Du Yun Mao Jian   Duyun Tippy dū yún máojiān 都匀毛尖 都勻毛尖
Gui Ping Xi Shan Cha   Gui Ping West Mountain tea guìpíng xīshān chá 桂平西山茶 桂平西山茶
Lao Zhu Da Fang Ding Gu Da Fang, Zhu Pu Da Fang Old Bamboo Generous lǎo zhú dàfāng 老竹大方 老竹大方
An Ji Bai Cha   Anji White ānjí báichá 安吉白茶 安吉白茶
Nan Jing Yu Hua Cha   Rain Flower tea nánjīng yǔ huāchá 南京雨花茶 南京雨花茶
Tai Ping Hou Kui   Monkey King tàipíng hóu kuí 太平猴魁 太平猴魁
Kai Hua Long Ding   Kai Hua Dragon's Pick kāihuà lóng dǐng 开化龙顶 開化龍頂
Lu Shan Yun Wu   Lushan Misty Clouds lúshān yúnwù 庐山云雾 廬山雲霧
An Hua Song Zhen   Song Zhen Needle green tea ān huà sōngzhēn 安化松针 安化松針
Jiang Shan Lu Mu Dan   Green Peony jiāngshān lǜ mǔdān 江山绿牡丹 江山綠牡丹
Lu An Gua Pian Liu An Gua Pian Melon Seed liù ān guāpiàn 六安瓜片 六安瓜片
Gao Qiao Yin Feng   Silver Peak gāo qiáo yín fēng 高桥银峰 高橋銀峰
Shu Cheng Lan Hua   Shu Cheng Orchid shū chéng lánhuā 舒城兰花 舒城蘭花
Wu Xi Hao Cha   Wu Xi Downy tea wúxī háo chá 无锡毫茶 無錫毫茶
Tian Mu Qing Ding   Heaven's Eye Green Peak tiānmù qīng dǐng 天目青顶 天目青頂
Gu Zhang Mao Jian   Gu Zhang Downy Tips gǔ zhàng máojiān 古丈毛尖 古丈毛尖
Meng Ding Gan Lu   Meng Ding Sweet Dew méng dǐng gānlù 蒙顶甘露 蒙頂甘露
Yong Chuan Xiu Ya   Yong Chuang Premium Bud yǒngchuān xiù yá 永川秀芽 永川秀芽
Pan'an Yun Feng   Pan An Cloud Peak pán ān yún fēng 盘安云峰 盤安云峰
Pu Tuo Fo Cha   Buddha tea pǔ tuó fú chá 普陀佛茶 普陀佛茶
Song Yang Yin Hou   Silver Monkey sōng yáng yín hóu 松阳银猴 松陽銀猴
Pu Bu Xian Ming   Immortal Waterfall Buds pùbù xiān míng 瀑布仙茗 瀑布仙茗
Qian Dao Yu Ye   Thousand Islands Jade Leaf qiāndǎo yù yè 千岛玉叶 千島玉葉
San Bei Xiang   3 Cup Fragrance sān bēi xiāng 三杯香 三杯香
Jing Ting Lu Xue   Green Snow jìng tíng lǜ xuě 敬亭绿雪 敬亭綠雪
Xue Shui Yun Lu   Snow Water Clouds xuě shuǐ yún lǜ 雪水云绿 雪水雲綠
Lin Hai Pan Hao   Curly Buds, Curly Tips línhǎi pán háo 临海蟠毫 臨海蟠毫
Pu Jiang Chun Hao   Pu Jiang Spring Buds pǔjiāng chūn háo 浦江春毫 浦江春毫
Yang Yan Gou Qing   Sheep Rock Green Hooks yáng yán gōu qīng 羊岩勾青 羊岩勾青
Lu Jian Cha   Green Swords lǜ jiàn chá 绿剑茶 綠劍茶
Zi Yang Mao Jian   Purple Sun Downy Tips zǐyáng máojiān 紫阳毛尖 紫陽毛尖
Dian Qing   Yunnan Green tea diān qīng 滇青 滇青
Wu Yang Chun Yu   Spring Rain wǔ yángchūnyǔ 武阳春雨 武陽春雨
Wu Zi Xian Hao   Wu Zi Heavenly Buds wǔ zi xiān háo 午子仙毫 午子仙毫
Lu Ming Wu Cha   Lu Ming Fog Tea Lù míng wù chá 鹿鸣雾茶 鹿鳴霧茶
Dong Bai Chun Ya   Eastern White Spring Buds dōng báichūnyá 东白春芽 東白春芽
Jian De Bao Ya   Jian De Bud tea jiàn dé bāo chá 建德苞茶 建德苞茶
Mao Shan Chang Qing   Mao Shan Evergreen máoshān cháng qīng 茅山长青 茅山長青
Xiao Bu Yan Cha   Xiao Bu Rock tea xiǎo bù yán chá 小布岩茶 小布岩茶
Xian Yao Yun Wu   Heavenly Jade Misty Fog xiān yáo yǐn wù 仙瑶隐雾 仙瑤隱霧
Feng Yang Chun   Phoenix Spring Sun fèng yáng chūn 凤阳春 鳳陽春
Nu'er Huan Nv'er Huan Daughter's Ring nǚ'ér huán 女儿环 女兒環
Cheng Tian Xue Long   Snow Dragon chéng tiān xuě lóng 承天雪龙 承天雪龍
Wu Zhou Ju Yan   Wu Zhou Rock Lift, Wu Zhou Rock tea wù zhōu jǔ yán 婺州举岩 婺州舉岩
Yang Dang Mao Feng   Yang Dang Furry Peak yàndàng máo fēng 雁荡毛峰 雁蕩毛峰
Wang Fu Yin Hao   Wang Fu Silver Needle wàng fǔ yín háo 望府银毫 望府銀毫
Heng Wen Xi Xiu   Fine Beauty héng wén xì xiù 横纹细秀 橫紋細秀
Fu Lai Chun   Floating Spring fú láichūn 浮来春 浮來春
Wu Dong Cha   Misty Cave tea, Wu Dong tea wù dòng chá 雾洞茶 霧洞茶
Da Fo Long Jing Da Fo Lung Ching Da Fu Dragon Well dàfú lóngjǐng 大佛龙井 大佛龍井
Mei Cha   Eyebrow green tea méi chá 眉茶 眉茶
Xue Qing   Snow Spring tea xuěqīng chá 雪青茶 雪青茶
Cai Hua Mao Jian   Flower Picking Downy Buds cǎihuā máojiān 采花毛尖 採花毛尖

Black Tea Name List

The black tea list is much shorter than the green tea list above. Not strange, given the relatively short history of this category. Chinese black teas are mainly produced in Fujian and Yunnan. The Keemun and Lapsang Souchong are the first black teas exported to foreign markets. Therefore, the related English tea names should sound familiar to regular tea drinkers.

Official Name Alternative Spelling Western Name Pronunciation (Pinyin) Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional
Qi Hong Qi Men Hong Keemun qí hóng 祁红 祁紅
Minced Black Tea   CTC hóng suì chá 红碎茶 紅碎茶
Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong   Lapsang Souchong zhèng shān xiǎo zhǒng 正山小种 正山小種
Jin Jun Mei   Golden Monkey/Eye Brows jīn jùn méi 金骏眉 金駿眉
Yi Hong     yí hóng 宜红 宜紅
Ying Hong   Hero Black yīng hóng 英红 英紅
Dian Hong (Yun Nan Black Tea)   Yunnan Gold diān hóng 滇红 滇紅
Ning Hong     níng hóng 宁红 寧紅
Jiu Qu Hong Mei   Nine Red Plum jiǔ qū hóng méi 九曲红梅 九曲紅梅
Tan Yang Gong Fu     tǎn yáng gōngfū 坦洋工夫 坦洋工夫
Bai Lin Gong Fu     bái lín gōngfū 白琳工夫 白琳工夫
Mi Zhuan   Rice Brick mǐ zhuān 米砖 米磚

Oolong Tea Name List

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea type with an oxidation level between that of green tea (minimally oxidised) and black tea (fully oxidised). Wuyishan and Anxi are the most popular regions where the famous Da Hong Pao and Tie Guan Yin are produced, respectively. As oolong isn't as popular as black and green tea, many of those don't have a English tea name. They're more known by there Chinese phonetic spelling.

Official Name Alternative Spelling Western Name Pronunciation (Pinyin) Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional
Mei Zhan     méi zhàn 梅占 梅占
Feng Huang Dan Cong   Phoenix Dan Cong fènghuáng dān cōng 凤凰单枞 鳳凰單樅
Fu Jian Shui Xian     fújiàn shuǐxiān 福建水仙 福建水仙
Ling Tou Dan Cong     lǐng tóu dān cōng 岭头单枞 嶺頭單樅
Da Hong Pao   Big Red Robe dàhóng páo 大红袍 大紅袍
Tie Luo Han   Iron Man tiě luóhàn 铁罗汉 鐵羅漢
Bai Ji Guan     bái jīguān 白鸡冠 白雞冠
Shui Jing Gui     shuǐjīng guī 水晶龟 水晶龜
Yong Chun Fo Shou     yǒngchūn fóshǒu 永春佛手 永春佛手
Tong Tian Xiang     tōng tiānxiāng 通天香 通天香
Huang Zhi Xiang     huángzhīxiāng 黄枝香 黃枝香
Rou Gui   Cinnamon Bark ròuguì 肉桂 肉桂
Tie Guan Yin   Iron Buddha tiě guānyīn 铁观音 鐵觀音
Huang Jin Gui     huángjīn guì 黄金桂 黃金桂
Dong Ding Wu Long     dòng dǐng wū lóng 冻顶乌龙 凍頂烏龍
Wen Shan Bao Zhong     wénshān bāo zhǒng 文山包种 文山包種
Bai Hao Wu Long     báiháo wū lóng 白毫乌龙 白毫烏龍
Shui Xian Tea Cake     shuǐxiān chá bǐng 谁先茶饼 誰先茶餅
Mao Xie     máoxiè 毛蟹 毛蟹
Qi Lan   Miracle Orchid qí lán 奇兰 奇蘭

White Tea Name List

White tea is one of the latest new categories of teas and the least processed type to preserve all the natural nutritions in tea. White tea from Fujian can be divided into the four grades below, which are the first four in the list below. The last one (Moonlight White) is an outsider, because it's from Yunnan.

Official Name Alternative Spelling Western Name Pronunciation (Pinyin) Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional
Bai Mu Dan   White Peony,

White Monkey

bái mǔdān 白牡丹 白牡丹
Bai Hao Yin Zhen   Silver Needle báiháo yín zhēn 白毫银针 白毫銀針
Shou Mei   Longevity Eyebrow shòu méi 寿眉 壽眉
Gong Mei   Tribute Eyebrow gòng méi 贡眉 貢眉
Yue Guang Bai   Moonlight White yuè guāng bái 月光白 月光白

Yellow Tea Name List

Yellow teas follow a similar production procedure as green teas. However, there's an additional steaming step that result in slightly yellowish leaves, hence the name. This steaming step partially removes the bitter taste, resulting in a smoother flavor.

Official Name Alternative Spelling Western Name Pronunciation (Pinyin) Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional
Meng Ding Huang Ya   Meng Peak Yellow Bud méng dǐng huáng yá 蒙顶黄芽 蒙頂黃芽
Huo Shan Huang Ya   Hua Mountain Yellow Bud huòshān huáng yá 霍山黄芽 霍山黃芽
Mo Gan Huangya   Mo Gan Yellow Bud mò gàn huáng yá 莫干黄芽 莫干黃芽
Jun Shan Yin Zhen   Jun Shan Silver Needle jūnshān yín zhēn 君山银针 君山銀針
Wei Shan Mao Jian   Wei Shan Downy Tips wéi shān máojiān 沩山毛尖 溈山毛尖
Huo Shan Huang Da Cha   Huo Mountain Big Yellow tea huòshān huángdàchá 霍山黄大茶 霍山黃大茶

Dark / Pu Erh Tea Name List

In Chinese this category is called 'hei cha', which literally translates into 'black tea'. Because the term black tea is already used in the West, this category of teas are now officially referred to as 'dark tea'. Within this group, it's pu erh tea that's by far the most popular. Because of this, the 'pu erh tea' and 'dark tea' are often used interchangeably.

In the below list we're not aiming to list all the brands available. That would make this list endlessly long. Instead, we're focusing mainly on how the teas are presented.

Official Name Alternative Spelling Western Name Pronounciation (Pinyin) Chinese Simplified Chinese Thaditional
San Pu'er Cha Loose pu er tea Loose pu erh tea Sàn pǔ'ěr 散普洱 散普洱
An Hua Hei Zhuan   An Hua Dark Brick ān huà hēi zhuān 安化黑砖 安化黑磚
Qian Liang Cha   Thousand Once tea qiān liǎng chá 千两茶 千兩茶
Bai Liang Cha   Hundred Once tea bǎi liǎng chá 百两茶 百兩茶
Qi Zi Bing Cha   357 gram tea cakes qīzi bǐng chá 七子饼茶 七子餅茶
Liu Bao Cha   Six Treasure tea liù bǎo chá 六堡茶 六堡茶
Kang Zhuan   Healthy Brick kāng zhuān 康砖 康磚
Jin Jian   Golden Tips jīn jiān 金尖 金尖
Qing Zhuan Cha   Green Brick tea qīng zhuānchá 青砖茶 青磚茶
Fu Zhuan   Fu tea, Fu brick tea fú zhuānchá 茯砖茶 茯磚茶
Zhu Tong Cha   Bamboo tube tea, Bamboo dark tea zhútǒng chá 竹筒茶 竹筒茶
Pu'er Fang Cha   Square pu erh tea pǔ'ěr fāng chá 普洱方茶 普洱方茶
Tuo Cha   Tuocha tea tuóchá 沱茶 沱茶
An Hua Hua Zhuan   An Hua Flower brick ān huà huāzhuān 安化花砖 安化花磚

Herbal Tea Name List

The strict definition of 'tea' is any infusion resulting from leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tea plant. Because herbal teas (also known as 'tisane') such as Rooibos and flower teas aren't made from the tea plant, we'll not create a list for these.

Comments
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Radek Texl
December 27, 2019
Hallo, I would like ask you for help to translate tea name in chinese letters. I have received as present tea during my last visit of China, but I can not find which type of tea it is. I think it is green tea, but I am interesting to know which tea it is in reality. I can sen you picture of this tea name. Thank you
Teasenz
December 27, 2019
Sure no problem. Feel free to contact us and send a picture of the Chinese characters to us. We'll help you identify the tea.
Phina
April 3, 2022
How do I contact you guys I also got a lot of tea as gifts from my Chinese friends but I need to know the type before I start takin them.
Teasenz
April 27, 2022
If you want us to identify the tea names, you can simply email us the pictures. Our email address in on top of our website. Attach pictures of the teas.
Luluboogie
July 21, 2020
This list is amazing, thank you! Are there any comprehensive resources somewhere I could also find about the province, county, and mountains for which each of these teas originated? Also which cultivar(s) they are made from? And of course picking and processing? I know this is a lot, but if its out there, I would find it of much interest.
Teasenz
July 21, 2020
I'm glad you like it. I understand your feedback, and adding such info would be definitely useful. However, such info is quite shattered and not readily available from one source. For the origin, often times it's already in the name of the tea. For example 'Xin Yang Mao Jian' is from 'Xin Yang' and Xi Hu Longjing is from 'Xi Hu'. This is the case for the big majority of the Chinese tea names, because farmers always want to emphasise their local produce. Only when the region is very famous, they may leave it out. For example for Wuyishan Da Hong Pao, they would leave out Wuyishan, because it's almost common knowledge in China. With regards to processing steps, I would start learning this at a tea type level first (green, black, white etc). Even within a village that in which everyone produces the same tea, there's will be still small variances in processing. I.e. variation in fermentation time, machine vs hand processing, the shape achieved after kill green etc.
Linda Tanner
July 21, 2020
I am looking for Xiao Tuo Cha tea and cannot find it. The bag I had was orange with this name on it. Are you able to help me?
Teasenz
July 21, 2020
'Tuo Cha' generally refers to a certain shape in which pu erh tea is compressed. 'Xiao' means 'small', i think you're looking for very small mini tuocha or you're looking for a 100g size version. Let me know if this helps. If not, just send us an email with pictures, so we can identify the tea for you.
dax
January 15, 2021
hey, i love that you put this list here, it is suuper useful! i was trying to replicate an oolong tea blend that ITO EN makes, which i really like. their website says, "The tea leaves used for this Golden Oolong are flowery, fragrant "Golden Cinnamon" and hearty and ripe "Iron Goddess"." i have deduced that the iron goddess is the "Ti Guan Yin" oolong. but i am wondering what they mean by the golden cinnamon... can you help me?
Teasenz
May 1, 2021
Golden cinnamon likely refers to 'Rou Gui', which is Wuyishan oolong tea.
felise hutton
March 31, 2021
could you please tell me what teas are sweet. That what's i am searching for. Thank you.
Teasenz
May 1, 2021
Whether teas are sweet or not will be specific to each tea. Even within the same kind of tea, there will be differences from one farm to another. The best would be to simply read the taste profile of individual teas as provided by sellars.
Darlene Henderson
June 16, 2021
Hi, I am looking for Ying Liu tea. It is supposed to be effective for hyperthyroidism. Can you help me figure out if there is another name for it or exactly how to search for it. Thanks in advance!
Teasenz
July 29, 2021
Unfortunately, we aren't able to figure out the tea based on your comment. If you have a picture of the tea or packaging, you can send us an email and we can try to help.
Olive
June 24, 2021
I am wanting to replace this tea that was a gift but need help translating. Thank you so much! Pin Wei Cha Xiang
Teasenz
July 29, 2021
Based on 'pin wei cha xiang' we're not able to identify the tea. Perhaps you can email us and send us a picture of the tea and the packaging. We might be able to help you identify based on that.
Mona Rene
February 1, 2022
Can you tell me what kind of tea is jiu ceng shan tea (九层山茶)Does it mean nine story mountain tea or nine layers of camellia tea? Is it a white, green, or flower tea?
Teasenz
February 12, 2022
This literally translated as 'nine layer mountain tea', referring to a green tea from the jiu chen shan in Guizhou. It's a local specialty, but fairly unknown in China and abroad.
Adam
February 14, 2023
This list is on my bookmarks and I refer to it very often to figure out what it is that I ordered online hahah. Very useful really!! Thank you
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