Chengbu Savoury Oil Tea 城步油茶
Chengbu Savoury Oil Tea is featured among the local specialties of Hunan.
Chengbu youcha brings together a strongly brewed tea soup and a collection of crisp, substantial additions. The county tourism account describes preparing yinmi by soaking glutinous rice, steaming it, drying it and flattening the grains. This rice is toasted until crisp, while soybeans and peanuts are cooked and fried. Pieces of rice cake or bracken-starch cake may also be prepared. The tea component begins with dried tea cakes; these are boiled, pounded and boiled again, then strained before oil, salt, garlic, ginger and chilli season the liquid.
Flavour, texture & local variations
The bowls are assembled by adding the solid ingredients first and pouring the hot tea broth over them, with scallion and pepper as finishing seasonings. That order creates a changing texture: the roasted rice and beans begin crisp and gradually soften as they absorb tea. The account describes savoury, bitter, spicy and sweet notes within the same serving. Ask which cake pieces and nuts are included, especially if comparing it with a smooth pounded tea from another locality. Begin while the contrasting textures are still distinct, and adjust additional pepper only after tasting the broth.
How it is prepared
Prepare crisp rice and fried additions; boil and pound tea, strain and season the broth, then pour it over the bowl's solid ingredients.
Ingredients to check
Tea, glutinous-rice yinmi, soybeans, peanuts, rice-cake or bracken-starch-cake pieces, oil, salt, garlic, ginger, chilli, scallion and pepper.
Ordering this dish
Ask which cake and nut additions are included and taste promptly to experience the crisp ingredients before they soften in the tea broth.
More dishes to compare
Explore related local specialties and compare their names, preparation notes and ordering guidance.
Jiangyong Yao Mountain Oil Tea 江永瑶山油茶 →
Jiangyong Yao Mountain Oil Tea (江永瑶山油茶) is listed among the local specialties of Yongzhou, Hunan. The term 茶 points to tea or a locally named drink.
Lanshan Savoury Oil Tea 蓝山油茶 →
Lanshan Savoury Oil Tea (蓝山油茶) is listed among the local specialties of Yongzhou, Hunan. The term 茶 points to tea or a locally named drink.
Taoyuan Pounded Tea 桃源擂茶 →
Taoyuan Pounded Tea (桃源擂茶) is listed among the local specialties of Changde, Hunan. The term 茶 points to tea or a locally named drink.
Sources & reading
Identity and the described preparation reviewed against the linked government culinary sources on 9 September 2026. The illustrated preparation is a documented example; vendors may use different ingredients and presentation. Ordering suggestions are editorial guidance. No recipe testing, exclusive origin, current availability or dietary certification is claimed.
Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.