(250521) -- BEIJING, May 21, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tea technician Zhang Le (2nd R) teaches at a Chinese tea studio in Paris, France, June 27, 2024. Originating in China, tea has become so popular worldwide that May 21 is celebrated as International Tea Day. The traditional Chinese tea-making techniques and their associated social practices was added to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list in 2022.

Tea is an important means for the inheritance and innovation of Chinese culture, as well as a bond that brings people together in harmony and friendship.

Chinese tea houses can be found in Paris, a city dotted with cafes. SERENI'THE Teahouse, located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris just steps away from Place de la Concorde, was co-founded by Yang Ying and Wang Li. Both from southwest China and high school classmates, the pair endeavors to showcase a fresh perspective on Chinese tea here via traditional Chinese kung fu tea ceremonies and creative Chinese pastries, and hopes to engage more people in the appreciation of Chinese culture.

Zhang Le, a Chinese tea technician, opened a Chinese tea studio in Paris. She holds tea art classes here for French and overseas students and promotes Chinese tea-serving culture at local primary and secondary schools and cultural institutions. Through her efforts, many people become fond of Chinese tea and tea culture.

Pu'er, a renowned tea producing area in southwest China's Yunnan Province, is now making a name for itself as China's coffee capital. So far the coffee planting area in the city had totaled 45,267 hectares, producing 58,000 tonnes of coffee products.

With the coffee industry in this region now attracting wide attention, local coffee manor owners have been steadily exploring innovative ways to boost coffee-related tourism. The coffee-related tourism activities are developing into an attractive tourism package in Pu'er, favored by consumers opting for diversified and more personalized experiences.

Traditionally a tea-drinking nation, China has now emerged as East Asia's fastest-growing market for coffee consumption, carving out a unique position in the global coffee landscape. China's customs data reveals that China's net coffee imports surged by 130,800 tonnes from 2020 to 2024, a 6.53-fold increase, with an annual growth rate of 65.7 percent. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)