Tea takes center stage at civilizational dialogue in Changsha

Tea, the most consumed beverage in the world after water, was famously categorized in ancient China as one of the seven daily necessities of life, alongside firewood, rice, oil, salt, vinegar, and soy sauce. Beyond its status as a staple, this millennia-old, nature-sourced drink has fostered a unique culture with global influence.

On Sunday, a group of former political leaders, industry professionals, and scholars gathered in Changsha, Hunan province, for the ninth Oriental Civilization Summit Dialogue and the Inaugural Blind Tea-Tasting Competition. The event — co-hosted by the Mencius Foundation, the Hunan Tea Industry Association, and the Hunan Collectors Association — focused on tea's role in promoting intercultural exchange.

Participants agreed that the UNESCO inscription of China's traditional tea-processing techniques as Intangible Cultural Heritage solidified the global value of Chinese tea culture.

Meng Liang, chairman of the Mencius Foundation, noted in his opening remarks that chadao (the way of tea) symbolizes the Chinese pursuit of a graceful life and a harmonious relationship with nature and the world.

"Tea, as a vital commodity on the ancient Silk Road, once captivated European nobility," Meng said. "This dialogue aims to promote 'harmonious coexistence' among civilizations. By using tea culture as a medium, we highlight the concepts of 'harmony in diversity' and 'shared beauty'."

Ivo Josipovic, former president of Croatia, praised tea as a successful model for intercultural exchange. He argued that tea is more than a drink; it embodies Eastern wisdom centered on harmony, tranquility, and truth.

Josipovic highlighted how Chinese tea inspired global traditions, including British afternoon tea, Russian tea culture, Japanese sado, and Moroccan mint tea.

He also emphasized the health benefits of tea and its ability to encourage "slow living" and mindfulness. "At the cultural — and even political — level, we should encourage more cross-cultural events like this, making tea a new 'lingua franca' connecting East and West," he concluded.

Shang Benqing, an associate professor of tea science at Hunan Agricultural University, echoed these sentiments.

He suggested that the "harmony" and "respect" inherent in tea culture could help address modern global challenges like climate change and regional conflicts. Shang proposed establishing dialogue platforms modeled after the formal tea ceremony (chaxu), which prioritizes equality and calm reflection.

A major highlight of the event was the Inaugural Blind Tea-Tasting Competition.

Meng Liang explained that the blind format represents a modern application of gewu, or the Neo-Confucian concept of the "investigation of things". By stripping away branding and packaging, participants were forced to evaluate the tea based on five core sensory factors: appearance, aroma, color, taste, and infused leaves.

Since its inception by the Mencius Foundation in 2017, the Oriental Civilization Summit Dialogue has continued to serve as a global platform for cross-cultural exchange, artistic collaboration, and industrial cooperation.