The Three Treasures of Jiangle: Lei Cha, Xishan Paper and Longchi Inkstone

Brief introduction: Lei Cha is a unique folk beverage in Jiangle. Sesame seeds, tea leaves, dried tangerine peel and other ingredients are pounded thoroughly and then brewed with boiling water. Regular drinking of Lei Cha helps dispel cold, improve eyesight, moisten the lungs and invigorate the stomach.

Lei Cha is an exclusive folk drink in Jiangle with a distinctive production method. You will need special tools: a ceramic mortar 35 centimetres across with radial grain lines on the inner wall, a 70-centimetre tea branch or silver rattan as the pounding stick, and a bamboo skimmer to strain fine residues. Sesame seeds, tea leaves, dried tangerine peel and other raw materials are pounded inside the mortar, then steeped in boiling water.

Lei Cha boasts abundant medicinal benefits. After a hearty meal, a cup of Lei Cha cuts through greasiness and brings great comfort to the stomach. Proven by practice, long-term consumption can ward off colds, clear the liver and improve eyesight, moisten the lungs and strengthen digestion.

Xishan Paper rose to fame as early as the Tang and Song dynasties, with a history of more than one thousand years. It is celebrated for its fine, flexible texture, smooth surface, strong water absorption, resistance to moth damage and outstanding quality. The paper has been sold well at home and abroad and exported to more than 20 countries and regions.

Emperor Qianlong was so impressed by this paper that he dispatched imperial envoys to Jiangle to purchase it for printing the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. From 1974 to 1976, the General Office of the State Council and the State Publishing Administration repeatedly ordered Xishan Paper from Jiangle to produce thread-bound editions of Poems by Mao Zedong and important historical documents.

Longchi Inkstone, a precious treasure of the scholar’s study, is hailed as a top-grade Min inkstone and ranks among China’s most celebrated ancient inkstones.

Its craft originated in the Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty. Yang Shi (Master Guishan), a great Neo-Confucian scholar of the Song Dynasty, loved writing and practising calligraphy with this fine inkstone from his hometown. Thanks to him, Longchi Inkstone became famous nationwide and has retained its reputation for thousands of years.