If you haven't drunk tea in Zhouzhuang, then you haven't been to Zhouzhuang.

This is often a saying uttered by locals of the ancient water town, who, as you might have guessed, take their tea rather seriously.

Like many other ancient towns located in the Yangtze River Delta, traditional culture has remained a part of the daily life of residents in Zhouzhuang; and the tea drinking culture is no exception.

A steamy pot of tea.[Photo from Kunshan Tourism Resort]

If pubs are the social hubs of England then it's the tea houses that glue together Zhouzhuang's community. A staple of every social gathering, tea offers a chance for locals to celebrate life, mourn those that have passed, solve family disputes or simply catch up with old friends.

Straddled along the many waterways in the town, tea houses are never short of visitors. Elderly women sit down over tea with their sewing patches every 60 days to inform each other of the talk of the town, farmers meet after a particularly busy period of work to catch up and family members get together to discuss financial plans for the year ahead. In every aspect of life, tea plays a central role.

Women in traditional outfits drink tea together with their needle works. [Photo from Kunshan Tourism Resort]

When there are no special occasions, groups of friends and households will take turns to host a tea gathering. Hosting a tea party is no small feat, and hosts often deliver invitations in person days in advance before preparations begin.

Drinking tea means more than simply being able to convene with family and friends; it forms part of a healthy lifestyle and is considered to be good for both the body and soul.

When it comes to choice of tea wares, it is the older the better. Earthen wares are considered the best for boiling water, which is often sourced from nearby flowing rivers. In keeping with tradition, locals use bamboo chips and twigs as kindling to boil the water.

Tea in the town is almost always served alongside an array of homemade appetizers, including pickled melons, marinated vegetables, crispy beans and melon seeds.

Tea is often accompanied with a selection of homemade snacks. [Photo from Kunshan Tourism Resort]

While visitors to the town may find themselves lucky enough to receive an invitation to a local tea party, those who don't can still immerse themselves in the culture by visiting many of the traditional tea houses there.

Grandma's Tea, Sanmao tea house and Jubinlou are just some of the places offering an authentic tea experience in Zhouzhuang. Visitors can nestle down with a cup of tea and sample traditional snacks. Close your eyes and you might hear centuries-old folk tunes being sung by women, as they navigate wooden boats along the narrow canals.

While visiting the "Venice of the East", by all means, take a stroll, devour some Sanwei Glutinous rice balls or visit Chengxu Temple; but whatever you do, make sure you drink some tea.

By Jacob Hooson