Although tales of its origin differ, the two-millennia-old festival is widely celebrated in memory of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). When Qu realized his country's decline was beyond recovery, his remorse grew so strong that he committed suicide, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Legend has it that locals rowed boats to save the poet and threw zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, into the river to keep fish from devouring his body. This tradition was passed down in China, even travelling across borders, carrying China’s respect for a patriot to all parts of the world.

A host of other practices are also associated with Duanwu. The fifth day of the fifth month is considered unlucky and poisonous. To rid themselves of the misfortune, many people, especially those in South China, take herbal baths, hang moxa and calamus plants over their doors and wear sachets stuffed with Chinese herbs, all with strong scents, to do away with venomous insects. Realgar wine, a common antidote against venom, is often enjoyed along with meals. Five-colored thread bracelets are also worn to obviate evil spirits.

Duanwu began as a day to remember a poet steeped with love for his country. His patriotism is still celebrated today, with rich and fun customs that unite hearts across the globe, in methods that hail to the harmony between nature and man.

Zongzi tea, which refers to black tea wrapped with bamboo or reed leaves, from Qimen county of Huangshan city in Anhui province are becoming increasingly popular among consumers in light of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 22.

Zongzi refers to glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They are a quintessential Chinese delicacy consumed during this holiday.

To create a novel way of consuming black tea, Jiang Shuxia, the owner of Qimen Jiyuanchun Tea Co Ltd in Qimen county, introduced tea that is wrapped in the same leaves as zongzi a few years ago.

The product was a big hit with consumers when it was released, and its popularity appears to have grown even further, with sales of zongzi tea this year growing once again.

The company currently produces about 30,000 units every day, which is three times the amount last year.

There are currently over 10 enterprises in Qimen county producing zongzi tea. The packaging of zongzi tea is all done manually by experienced tea farmers.

This surge in demand for the tea has in turn led to more employment opportunities for hundreds of local women and the elderly.