At the table
Steep the processed leaves in hot water, let the drink cool to a comfortable temperature, and sip the liquid while leaving the leaves behind.
Freshly brewed tea and the cup may be very hot. Use leaves sold for drinking; do not collect unidentified tree leaves.
Plain leaf-and-water preparation is plant-based. Ask about sweeteners or blends; do not assume every product has the same ingredients or caffeine content.
Know what you’re trying.
Freshly prepared non-alcoholic leaf infusion; serving size and strength vary.
Ingredients
Processed Laoying leaves and water. Chongqing preparations commonly use leaves of the tree called maobaopizhang (毛豹皮樟), in the laurel family. Leaf sources and processing vary.
Origin & regional roots
Chongqing
Associated with Chongqing.
About this regional connection
Chongqing: Direct Chongqing government and forestry accounts associate the traditional drink with Chongqing; Wuxi is one specific production/cultural area, not asserted as exclusive origin.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有老鹰茶吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Wuxi County old-hawk tea, steeped through the day
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
In Wuxi County, old-hawk tea is an infusion made from leaves of an evergreen tree, not the familiar tea plant. A handful of its large processed leaves goes into an enamel cup, then boiling water is poured over them; the cup can be sipped through the day. The traditional craft of making Wuxi old-hawk tea entered Chongqing’s municipal intangible-heritage list in 2016. This account belongs specifically to the Wuxi tradition in Wuxi County.