On April 30,2025, the school of International Education of Guizhou City Vocational College organized 25 international students from Burkina Faso, Sudan, Afghanistan, and other countries to visit Suntree Tea Factory in Guanshanhu District, Guiyang City for a "Tea Fragrance and Guizhou Charm·Sharing China" themed tea culture experience social practice activity. It promoted the international dissemination of China's excellent traditional culture and deepen their understanding and appreciation of China's tea culture. The event, centered on immersive experiences and cross-cultural exchanges, featured a series of courses including tea picking, tea processing, and tea art. Through these practical activities, international students gained a profound appreciation of China's tea culture while enhancing their cultural sensitivity and communication skills.

Tea garden exploration: experience the tea culture in the tea country

Stepping into Suntree Tea Factory's tea plantation, visitors are greeted by lush green tea bushes bursting with fresh floral scents. Under the guidance of professional instructors, international students begin by learning to identify different tea plant varieties and their distinct growth characteristics. The training then shifts focus to tea-picking techniques, with instructors demonstrating the "hand-picking method"—a technique where practitioners gently pinch the bud with thumb and index finger before lifting it upward. They emphasize the "one bud, one leaf" standard: each harvested leaf must contain both a tender bud and a fresh leaf, ensuring optimal flavor in finished products. After mastering the essentials, students donned tea-picking baskets and ventured into the tea plantation for hands-on practice. They carefully navigated through the tea bushes, meticulously selecting and harvesting leaves according to established standards, while exchanging techniques and documenting their experiences. Shi Na, an Afghan student clutching freshly picked leaves, exclaimed excitedly: "This is my first time picking tea in a plantation! I never realized how crucial the timing and methods are for flavor. Every leaf embodies nature's bounty and human ingenuity–it's truly amazing!"

Tea making experience: understanding the traditional skills and the spirit of craftsmanship

After the tea plantation workshop concluded, master tea artisans from China conducted a hands-on tea-making demonstration for international students. The master demonstrated the complete traditional production process: First came the "green-drying" stage, where freshly picked leaves were evenly spread out to undergo 6-8 hours of natural withering, allowing moisture to evaporate gradually. Next was the "fermentation" phase, where the withered leaves were placed in an 180℃ iron pot and rapidly stirred by hand to destroy enzyme activity through high temperatures while preserving the tea's aroma. The "rolling" stage followed, where the master skillfully manipulated the leaves with alternating light and heavy pressure, shaping them into distinctive rod-like forms while releasing natural juices to enhance flavor. Finally, the "drying" phase involved slowly roasting the rolled leaves over charcoal fire, effectively removing excess moisture and amplifying the tea's rich fragrance.

After the demonstration, international students conducted hands-on practice in groups. From controlling the thickness of the green leaves to mastering the heat control during fixation and grasping the kneading force, each step was full of challenges. After multiple attempts, Hu Sen, a student from Sudan, finally completed his tea-making work. He remarked: "I used to think Chinese tea tasted good, but today I realized how many complex steps a single leaf goes through to become a drink. Every step requires patience and meticulousness—this is probably what the teacher meant by the 'artisan spirit'!"

International students took a group photo in the Suntree tea mountain

Afghan student Shi Na tries to pick fresh tea leaves

International students experience the tea making process

This tea culture experience activity, using "tea" as a bond, allows international students to not only touch the "form" —— of China's tea culture through exquisite tea-picking and processing techniques, but also comprehend its "essence"——embodying the ecological philosophy of "harmony between heaven and humanity" and the cultural connotation of "moderation and inclusiveness." It serves as a vivid practice of Guizhou City Vocational College's "language & culture" international education model. In the future, the college will continue to develop a series of "cultural experience & language practice" courses, enabling more international students to become disseminators of China's outstanding traditional culture and contribute to the brilliance of Chinese culture on the global stage.