Eating in China
Ginger-salt soybean tea

Ginger-salt soybean tea

姜盐豆子茶Jiāngyán dòuzi chá

A savoury green tea with ginger pungency, roasted soybeans and sesame. Whole beans and seeds remain in the bowl, adding bites of toasted flavour to the lightly bitter, salty tea.

Order in Chinese

At the table

How to enjoy it

Sip slowly after cooling. Spoon up and chew the beans and sesame if you wish; leave the tea leaves. Do not swallow whole beans with a large gulp.

A useful check

Contains soy, sesame and caffeine. Ginger is pungent and beans may remain firm; check additional ingredients and temperature.

How it may vary

Ginger treatment and quantities differ by household. This sesame-and-soybean version is an infusion, not the paste-ground leicha drink.

Know what you’re trying.

Crush salt-cured ginger, roast soybeans and sesame, combine with green tea and hot water, then adjust the salt. Ginger treatment and quantities differ by household. This sesame-and-soybean version is an infusion, not the paste-ground leicha drink.

Ingredients

Green tea, ginger, salt, roasted soybeans, sesame and water.

Origin & regional roots

Hunan

Associated with Hunan.

About this regional connection

Hunan: Dongting Lake household hospitality, including Yuanjiang/Nanxian/Datonghu; not exclusive to one town.

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Ask if they have it first

ASK IF IT'S AVAILABLE

请问你们有姜盐豆子茶吗?

Do you have this item?

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ

Story & history

Ginger-salt soybean tea

This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.

Around Dongting Lake, families serve this tea to visitors and neighbours. Its combination of tea with familiar farm ingredients makes it both a drink and something to nibble while talking.

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