Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.
The Chongyang Festival, also known as the “Seniors’ Day,” is a Chinese tradition honoring the elderly. The ancients spoke of “Double Ninth”—the number nine echoes the word for “longevity,” symbolizing long life. Besides climbing heights and admiring chrysanthemums, this day carries an important meaning—caring for the elderly. And I believe that giving the elderly a pot of fine ripe tea is the finest expression of that care.
Why ripe tea? Because ripe tea is warm and gentle on the stomach, making it most suitable for the elderly. Older people’s stomachs and spleens are usually weaker and cannot handle anything too stimulating. Raw tea is cool in nature; if the elderly drink too much, it can cause stomach discomfort. Red tea is warm, but some elders find it too sweet. Ripe tea is just right—warm but not drying, sweet but not cloying, and excellent for digestion.
This Chongyang Festival, I have prepared several tea gifts for the elders in our family. I chose a 2018 Menghai ancient tree ripe tea, aged for six years. The aged aroma of this cake is now very prominent—a blend of jujube and medicinal notes, with a deep red, translucent liquor. Elders who regularly drink tea will love it, because it is warm, gentle on the stomach, and has no bitter edge.
There are a few considerations when giving ripe tea to the elderly. First, choose tea with some age on it. Newly made ripe tea has a pile-fermentation odor that elders may not enjoy. Tea stored for three to five years or more has lost that odor and developed prominent aged aromas, making it more suitable. Second, choose ancient tree tea. Ancient tree teas have stronger tea qi and richer nutrients, considered more beneficial for the elderly. Third, teach them how to brew it. Ripe tea requires a different method than raw tea—high water temperature, quick pouring. Once the elderly know how to brew it, they can enjoy it at their leisure.
Just before Chongyang this year, I brought several cakes of ripe tea back to the village. My parents are both in their eighties now, still in fairly good health, though their digestion is not what it once was. I brewed a pot of ripe tea for them. My mother took a sip and said, “So smooth!” My father took a sip and said, “So warming!” Then they started competing for the pot like children. Seeing them so happy made me feel deeply satisfied.
What are the benefits of ripe tea for the elderly? First, it warms and protects the stomach and spleen. Ripe tea is warm in nature, supporting digestion and easing the discomforts that come with age. Second, it is traditionally believed to support healthy lipid levels. Compounds found in aged fermented tea are valued in traditional wellness culture. Third, it calms and aids sleep. Ripe tea has less caffeine than raw tea, and after fermentation, its theanine content increases, which is traditionally considered soothing. A cup of ripe tea in the evening can help the elderly sleep better.
I remember my mother used to not drink tea, saying it would keep her awake. Later I introduced her to ripe tea, explaining it would not affect her sleep. She tried it and fell in love. Now she drinks a pot every day. She says after drinking ripe tea, her whole stomach feels warm and comfortable. This is the power of tea—it can change a person’s habits, and for the better.
Tea has grades; all may enjoy it regardless of status.
On Chongyang day, I stayed home with my parents drinking tea. They talked about the old days, about taking me to the tea mountains as a child to pick tea. I was small then and knew nothing about tea; I just thought the tea trees were so tall and big. Now I am an old tea head myself, and I am beginning to understand why the elderly love drinking tea so much. It is not just because the tea is good—it is because drinking tea allows you to sit together with family, chat, and enjoy a peaceful moment.
On Chongyang, honor the elderly. Give them a pot of ripe tea, sit with them over a cup, and listen to their stories of the past. These simple things are the finest way to show respect. No need to spend a fortune, no need to travel far—just a pot of good tea and your presence.
Make friends through tea, please enjoy a cup.
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Author: Old Tea Head · Lin Shen (LamSam)
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