A tea culture center was recently opened in the Myanmar Commercial Liaison Office in Nanning to promote Burmese tea culture and help local tea products expand into the Chinese market.

Myanmar has been growing tea since the 11th century. After hundreds of years of development, Burmese tea is now exported to Asian countries such as Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, and European countries such as Germany, said Myanmar Consul-General in Nanning U Soe Thet Naung.

A Chinese customer browses the tea selection at the culture center. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

According to the head of the culture center, tea culture is so prevalent in Myanmar that every sub-district has at least one teahouse that serves black and green tea. Myanmar is also one of very few countries where tea is eaten as well as drunk. Its pickled tea, unique to the region, is extensively used in traditional cuisine.

Employees of Myanmar Tea Plantation Group served some Myanmar dishes that contain tea leaves at the opening ceremony of the culture center.

Employees of Myanmar Tea Plantation Group serve some Myanmar dishes that contain tea leaves at the opening ceremony of the culture center. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Yang Yanyan, deputy secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, said that China has a close business relationship with Myanmar. Previously, most Burmese commodities at the expo were jade and timber products. However, since 2016, the secretariat has been encouraging more characterized products from Myanmar, such as tea and beans, to be introduced to China.