Why Can't Chinese Tea Be Ground into Powder Like Coffee Beans and Drunk Directly?

I often browse Zhihu and find many questions like this. I've also answered them, and I'll post it here with slight modifications.

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There are indeed ways to drink (or eat) tea leaves directly

For example, matcha is Japan's "national tea," but remember, matcha also originated from China.

There are many other ways to eat tea

Make tea into dishes: In Taiwan, there is a tea-themed restaurant with over a hundred dishes, each containing tea.

Tea scrambled eggs: I used to order this every time I went to Laobanzhang.

Tea pickling: For example, pickled vegetables with tea. Ethnic minorities like the Bulang people have been eating tea for a long time...

But drinking tea plain is the mainstream

There are hundreds of famous teas nationwide, with various brewing methods and even more teaware. I won't elaborate on that.

Let me talk about a less common perspective: Tea is a way to communicate with "heaven and earth."

"Eat tea and go" is the Zen saying of Master Zhaozhou.

"Tea and Zen are one flavor" is the saying of Zen practitioners.

Tea is used in sacrifices, as said by those who offer sacrifices.

"Stop arguing, let's have a cup of tea." That's the wise saying.

"Do you have time? Let's have a cup of tea together?" Tea is the bond of business.

"I've set up a tea room; come have tea when you have time." Tea is a platform.

Drinking tea alone, tea is the antidote to loneliness.

...

Tea is Zen language,

Tea is a way of life,

Tea is a medium,

Tea is a companion for cultivation,

Tea is a platform.

Tea can be many things,

Eating is just one of them.

The romance of Easterners is all in a cup of tea!