Liu Bao Tea : Memories of Nanyang

Liubao tea, emblematic of comfort and heritage for the Nanyang Chinese, faded into history with the decline of the tin mining industry. This once-forgotten tea has regained the attention of tea lovers in recent years. For many Malaysian Chinese, it is the taste of nostalgia.

Originally favoured by Chinese labourers in Southeast Asia, Liubao tea was both a token of home and a practical remedy. Unaccustomed to the tropical climate and harsh working conditions under the scorching sun with their feet submerged in water, labourers found this affordable, mellow tea helped prevent heatstroke and other ailments, making it an essential part of their lives. Every morning, workers would brew Liubao tea, pack it into aluminium containers, and take it to the mines, providing them with comfort throughout the day.

Liubao tea's journey begins in Cangwu County via the waterway to Guangdong, and is then exported from Hong Kong to Southeast Asia. Ipoh the once "tin capital of the world" became a hub for Liubao tea and was dubbed as the "second hometown of Liubao tea". Tea merchants from Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Ipoh collected and processed tea leaves, resulting in diverse styles of Liubao tea.

Liubao tea mirrors the journey of the early Chinese diaspora in Nanyang: it adapts with resilience, takes root in the culture, and blossoms in its newfound home.

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