The Character of Tea August 21, 2015 Sanne Tea “The Chinese character for tea is comprised of three parts: the upper part symbolizes “plant” or “grass”; the middle section refers to “man,” especially man’s locale on earth; the bottom portion represents “tree” or “being rooted”. The sum of this character’s elements creates the Chinese pictorial for tea as, “The revered plant that sustains man in his situation on earth.”” — The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide