During later dynasties, tea began to be consumed more widely, and it soon became as visible an item in the Chinese diet as the omnipresent rice.
到了宋代，我國茶藝更發展至顛峰狀態，不只王公貴族好飲茶，一般市井小民也都養成飲茶的習慣，茶已成為國人生活中不可缺少的必需品，與柴米油鹽醬醋等並列為「開門七件事」。家中如有客人來訪，先奉上一杯茶，也成為應對進退的禮儀之一。