Original source
A Different Side of China
Guizhou Zunyi & Sichuan Chili Culture: A Unique China Journey
I visited Zunyi in Guizhou, where I picked tea, tasted the region’s famous black tea and tea beer, and explored unique local dishes. Then I traveled to China’s Chili City, experiencing the bold flavors and rich culture this underrated region has to offer.
You have to see this side of China—enjoy the...
I visited Zunyi in Guizhou, where I picked tea, tasted the region’s famous black tea and tea beer, and explored unique local dishes. Then I traveled to China’s Chili City, experiencing the bold flavors and rich culture this underrated region has to offer.
Explore the lesser-known culinary delights and rich traditions of Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. Lizzy's journey unveils a unique side of China, from hand-picking tea in Zunyi to savoring the fiery flavors of China's Chili City. This captivating adventure promises an unforgettable taste of authentic Chinese culture.
I visited Zunyi in Guizhou, where I picked tea, tasted the region’s famous black tea and tea beer, and explored unique local dishes. Then I traveled to China’s Chili City, experiencing the bold flavors and rich culture this underrated region has to offer.
The vlogger arrives at a tea park deep in the mountains after driving along winding roads lined with endless tea terraces. She drinks tea at a big table with friends from the top floor of a tower with a 360-degree view and says tea brings people together in China. She then picks tea herself, choosing one bud with one leaf, which a guide says is the highest quality. They need to pick 1 kg before moving on, and she says she has stood there about 30 minutes and has less than 100 grams. After tasting tea ice cream, she dries the leaves in a machine heated to 220°C with a tea master of over 30 years of experience, rolls the tea by hand, and dries it again. He tells her the best tea is handpicked in spring, before April 5th, and that spring tea tastes sweet and fresh while summer and autumn tea is stronger. She tries jasmine milk tea and packs the tea she made for her mother. Lunch is at an elegant restaurant where the food includes a light white tea soup, black tea fish and green tea noodles. A host who has done tea ceremonies for over 20 years serves green tea and explains it is good in summer because it cools the body, then black tea, which is fermented, bolder and said to warm the stomach. The vlogger also tries green tea beer with 4.5% alcohol. In the second half she visits a township called China Chile City, where bags of chilies are piled up. She says they sold 350,000 tons of chilies in 2024 and made 7 billion RMB, and that it is the country's largest professional dry chili trading market. She walks through a chili plantation, picks and tastes a chili, sees sorted and dried chilies packed for hot pot and chili seeds on display. At a local market she eats spicy diced chicken, and for her last meal tries a lamb noodle dish she calls famous, which is not that spicy.
The vlogger visits Zunyi in Guizhou for a few days built around tea and chilies. She drives through tea terraces, drinks tea with a 360-degree view from a tower, picks her own tea leaves, then dries and rolls them by hand with a tea master and packs her own bag. Lunch features tea in the food, followed by a traditional tea ceremony with green and black tea and a try of tea beer. She then visits a township called China Chile City, sees a huge dry chili market and a chili plantation, and eats spicy diced chicken and a lamb noodle dish.
Picking and making tea in Zunyi, a tea ceremony and tea beer, then a trip to China's Chili City for chili markets, spicy chicken and lamb noodles.
Zunyi Tea Picking, Tea Beer and China's Chili City Trip
0:37 The tower in the tea park has a top floor with a full 360-degree view over hills, clouds and tea terraces. The vlogger calls it peaceful and quiet, and drinks tea there at a big table with others.
1:52 When picking tea, you pick one bud with one leaf, nothing more and nothing less. The vlogger's guide says this is the highest quality. Her group needs to pick 1 kg before they can go on to the next step.
2:55 After picking, you can dry your own leaves with a tea master. The leaves first go into a machine heated to 220°C, then you roll the tea by hand, and then it is dried again.
3:22 The tea master says the best tea is handpicked in spring in China, before April 5th. He also says spring tea tastes sweet and fresh, while summer and autumn tea is stronger.
4:56 At the lunch restaurant a woman introduces the tea before you eat, and tea is in the food too. The vlogger tries a light white tea soup, black tea fish and green tea noodles.
5:19 A traditional tea ceremony starts with the host gently cleaning your cup as a sign of respect. The vlogger first tastes green tea, which she says is perfect for summer because it cools the body and relieves the heat.
6:38 The ceremony host says black tea has a special role in China: it is known to warm the stomach and nourish the complexion. The vlogger finds it heavier and smoother than green tea, like a cozy blanket.
7:18 You can try tea beer, which is tea and beer in one bottle. The vlogger chooses a cold green tea beer with 4.5% alcohol and finds it crisp and refreshing.
9:06 China Chile City has the country's largest professional dry chili trading market, with bags of chilies piled up everywhere. The vlogger says they sold 350,000 tons of chilies in 2024.
9:36 You can also visit a chili plantation with many types of chilies in different sizes and shapes. The vlogger picks a few and tastes a red one, and warns that tasting them is only for the brave.
10:46 At a local market in the area, the vlogger tries spicy diced chicken, a dish the area is really known for. She says the chicken is very soft and very good.
11:27 For a last meal she tries a famous lamb and noodle dish that you mix with the spice first. She says it is actually not that spicy, so people scared of spice need not worry.
0:37 The tower in the tea park has a top floor with a full 360-degree view over hills, clouds and tea terraces. The vlogger calls it peaceful and quiet, and drinks tea there at a big table with others.
1:52 When picking tea, you pick one bud with one leaf, nothing more and nothing less. The vlogger's guide says this is the highest quality. Her group needs to pick 1 kg before they can go on to the next step.
2:55 After picking, you can dry your own leaves with a tea master. The leaves first go into a machine heated to 220°C, then you roll the tea by hand, and then it is dried again.
3:22 The tea master says the best tea is handpicked in spring in China, before April 5th. He also says spring tea tastes sweet and fresh, while summer and autumn tea is stronger.
4:56 At the lunch restaurant a woman introduces the tea before you eat, and tea is in the food too. The vlogger tries a light white tea soup, black tea fish and green tea noodles.
5:19 A traditional tea ceremony starts with the host gently cleaning your cup as a sign of respect. The vlogger first tastes green tea, which she says is perfect for summer because it cools the body and relieves the heat.
6:38 The ceremony host says black tea has a special role in China: it is known to warm the stomach and nourish the complexion. The vlogger finds it heavier and smoother than green tea, like a cozy blanket.
7:18 You can try tea beer, which is tea and beer in one bottle. The vlogger chooses a cold green tea beer with 4.5% alcohol and finds it crisp and refreshing.
9:06 China Chile City has the country's largest professional dry chili trading market, with bags of chilies piled up everywhere. The vlogger says they sold 350,000 tons of chilies in 2024.
9:36 You can also visit a chili plantation with many types of chilies in different sizes and shapes. The vlogger picks a few and tastes a red one, and warns that tasting them is only for the brave.
10:46 At a local market in the area, the vlogger tries spicy diced chicken, a dish the area is really known for. She says the chicken is very soft and very good.
11:27 For a last meal she tries a famous lamb and noodle dish that you mix with the spice first. She says it is actually not that spicy, so people scared of spice need not worry.
0:18 Tea terraces and tower view
1:37 Picking tea leaves
2:35 Tea ice cream tasting
2:55 Drying and rolling tea
3:28 Jasmine milk tea
4:20 Packing her own tea
4:32 Lunch with tea in the food
5:19 Green tea ceremony
6:20 Black tea tasting
7:10 Trying tea beer
8:00 China Chile City market
9:36 Chili plantation visit
10:35 Spicy diced chicken at the market
11:23 Lamb noodles as a last meal
0:18 Tea terraces and tower view
1:37 Picking tea leaves
2:35 Tea ice cream tasting
2:55 Drying and rolling tea
3:28 Jasmine milk tea
4:20 Packing her own tea
4:32 Lunch with tea in the food
5:19 Green tea ceremony
6:20 Black tea tasting
7:10 Trying tea beer
8:00 China Chile City market
9:36 Chili plantation visit
10:35 Spicy diced chicken at the market
11:23 Lamb noodles as a last meal
How do you pick tea leaves properly?
The vlogger's guide says to pick one bud with one leaf, nothing more and nothing less, which is the highest quality. Her group needed 1 kg before moving on to the next step.
How is the tea made after picking?
The leaves are dried in a machine heated to 220°C, rolled by hand, and dried again. The vlogger does this with a tea master of over 30 years of experience.
When is the best time for tea in China?
The tea master says the best tea is handpicked in spring, before April 5th. He says spring tea tastes sweet and fresh, while summer and autumn tea is stronger.
What is tea beer like?
The vlogger tries green tea beer, with tea and beer in one bottle and 4.5% alcohol. She finds it crisp and refreshing.
What is China Chile City?
It is a township the vlogger visits where bags of chilies are piled up. She says it has the country's largest professional dry chili trading market and that 350,000 tons of chilies were sold there in 2024.
Are the local dishes very spicy?
The vlogger tries spicy diced chicken at a local market, and a famous lamb noodle dish that she says is actually not that spicy, so people scared of spice can try it.
