CHINATOWN

Location: Bounded by Kearney, Powell, California and Broadway Streets

During the 1850s, the number of Chinese in California increased greatly due to the Gold Rush. The language barrier forced the Chinese to band together. Chinatown developed its own organizational network based on traditional Cantonese structures to provide for the needs of its people. The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed all of Chinatown, but the Chinese returned to the area and rebuilt. It continues to have the highest density of any neighborhood in the City.

According to Shirley Fong-Torres of the walking tour, "Wok Wiz Adventures," the drink of Chinatown is, beyond a doubt Oolong tea with ginseng and chrysanthemum flowers.

In China, there are sacred gardens that produce tea. At one time, the tea in these sacred gardens was only allowed to be touched by the human skin of the Emperor. All others wore silk gloves. These sacred gardens still exist -- Green and Oolong teas -- fall into this category.

Oolong is a semi-oxidized whole-leaf tea and liquors to a color between a pale cherry and deep red. Water with which one prepares Oolong is very important. It should be made with calcium and odor free.

Adding the ginseng, "gives energy to experience Chinatown" and the chrysanthemum "helps the eyesight," said Fong-Torres.