A tray of fresh tea leaves at the Jinjing Tea Factory in Hunan, China on May 10, 2025. Chinese tea makers carefully select the youngest leaves and dry them under at a standard temperature to preserve the flavour.
In a pavilion overlooking a vast tea plantation, a model arranged porcelain pieces in a pattern. She then slowly picked up pinches of dried tea and poured them into a kettle of boiling water. After allowing it to brew for a moment, she poured the hot liquid into each cup, ensuring they all contained the same amount.
Then, as though blessing the drink or offering a prayer, she made gestures to show that the drink would invigorate the body. She then began distributing the cups to the guests, who included a group of African journalists on a study trip.
