The influence of Buddhism on Chinese tea culture is sometimes underestimated.
Many Buddhist monasteries were built in mountainous areas, while tea plants also thrived in elevated, misty environments. As a result, monasteries often became important centers not only for drinking tea, but also for growing, producing, preparing, and transmitting it.
Historically, many famous tea-producing regions developed alongside Buddhist institutions and mountain temples. Places such as Mount Mengding, Mount Tiantai, Jingshan, Mount Lu, Mount Emei, and parts of the Wuyi Mountains all developed rich relationships with religious and tea culture.
Monasteries also formed important networks of travel and exchange.
Monks moved between temples, studied with different teachers, and traveled across regions. Along with Buddhist teachings, they could also carry tea, tea seeds, preparation methods, and drinking customs.
In this sense, Buddhist monasteries became one of the important networks through which Chinese tea culture was preserved, developed, and transmitted.