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A Wandering Tea Stall
Developer:
Nan Shen: Solo Project
Genre:
2D, Narrative-driven, Simulation
Engine:
Unity
Platform:
PC
Target Audience:
·Players who enjoy story-driven games with emotional depth and immersive experiences.
·Gamers who appreciate rich cultural settings, particularly those interested in Chinese traditions and aesthetics.
· Players interested in the everyday lives, struggles, and perspectives of contemporary Chinese youth.
High Concept：
A Wandering Tea Stall is a 2D narrative-driven simulation game, telling a story about friendship, community, fate, youth, and the journey of growing up.
Players take on the role of Jiamin, a university student who has returned to her hometown. By running a small tea stall in the neighborhood, she reconnects with old friends and neighbors, engaging in conversations that gradually help her confront and untangle the questions weighing on her heart.
Core Appeal:
· A Wandering Tea Stall does not challenge players with complex mechanics or high difficulty. Instead, it focuses on creating a natural integration between the act of tea brewing and interpersonal storytelling.
· The game invites players to slow down and listen—to the sound of boiling water, and to unspoken stories shared over tea. It transforms the simple act of running a stall into a quiet meditation on connection, time, and belonging.
Creative Motivation:
In post-pandemic China, social atomization has become increasingly evident. The fast pace of urban life, extended periods of isolation, and the dominance of online communication have all contributed to the decline of neighborhood relationships. Many young people live under intense pressure, leaving little time or emotional capacity for offline connection. As a result, the concept of “community” — once central to everyday Chinese life — is gradually disappearing.
A Wandering Tea Stall was conceived as a reflection and gentle resistance to this reality. Set in an old residential area where students and families once shared close ties, the game reimagines a sense of warmth and proximity that is now rare. Through slow-paced storytelling and the ritual of making tea, it invites players to pause, reconnect, and rediscover the subtle beauty of human connection in an increasingly fragmented world.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
Main Mechanic:
The game adopts a hybrid model of narrative interaction and simulation management. Players will encounter a variety of NPCs, each presenting their own unique requests. Within the cycle of meeting an NPC → preparing tea based on their needs → NPC tasting and responding, the tea-brewing process (simulation mechanics) and the dialogue with NPCs (narrative interaction) unfold simultaneously. This intertwined design creates an immersive experience that balances hands-on gameplay with emotional storytelling.
Innovations：
· Waiting period：
During the tea-brewing process, dialogue with NPCs continues uninterrupted. To better integrate these two gameplay elements, A Wandering Tea Stall introduces a waiting period : after adding tea leaves and hot water, players must wait for a short in-game duration to brew a cup of tea that satisfies the customer.
This waiting period naturally provides an opportunity for players to continue interacting with NPCs, thereby enhancing the integration of narrative and simulation mechanics.
· Comparative Analysis
Compared to purely simulation games: The difficulty of the tea-brewing mechanics in A Wandering Tea Stall is relatively moderate, leaving more space for the unfolding narrative.
Compared to purely visual novels: The game incorporates additional interactive elements, allowing players to engage in tea preparation while conversing with NPCs. This not only modulates the pacing but also enriches gameplay variety and enjoyment.
Narrative Design
Story Summary:
A Wandering Tea Stall follows Jiamin, a university student (the player character), during her summer vacation back in her hometown in Sichuan.
To pass the time, Jiamin borrows tea leaves and brewing utensils from her parents and sets up a small mobile tea stall at an inconspicuous corner within her neighborhood. Through this, she reconnects with many familiar neighbors and friends. During this process, Jiamin also attempts to confront a lingering personal concern: finding out the current situation of her old close friend, Xiaoxue, who has since disappeared from her life. Since diverging paths in their respective futures, the bond between Jiamin and Xiaoxue seems to have gradually faded, leaving Jiamin unable either to let go completely or to take the initiative to search for Xiaoxue. Adding to this, the recent earthquake has left a lingering sense of worry weighing on her mind.
Through conversations with various characters, players, alongside Jiamin, retrace these connections and, by observing others’ perspectives, are invited to reflect on their own past and future as well as the relationship between their hometown and the wider world.
Themes:
1. Human Connections: Friendships that gradually drift apart under the pressures of life and diverging paths. The relationship between Jiamin and Xiaoxue serves as a central driving force in the narrative of A Wandering Tea Stall.
2. Growth: The complex emotions of youth standing at the threshold of adulthood, facing both hope and uncertainty about the future.
3. Traditional Culture: The gradual decline of regional cultural practices, including tea culture, amidst the changes of modern times.
4. Community Bonds: the valuable, non-familial connections formed through living together within the same community.
Characters
19-year-old university sophomore who has returned to her hometown in Southwest China from a coastal metropolis.
She was admitted to a prestigious university in a major city but still feels uncertain about her future.
Introverted and gentle, she values important relationships and remains deeply attached to her friend Xiaoxue, who has left her life.
3.Ying Lin(林 莹)
17-year-old high school senior, attending the same school Jiamin once attended.
Like Jiamin, she has lived in this neighborhood since childhood, and they grew up as playmates, with their parents also acquainted.
A cheerful and outgoing teenager, she dreams of studying in the coastal city where Jiamin attends university.
5.Mr. Li
56 years old, lives on the third floor with his wife.
He is talkative, friendly, and fond of children.
A senior neighbor whom the protagonist has known since an early age.
7.Xiaoxue Zhou(周 小雪)
Jiamin’s close childhood friend.
After middle school, she moved away due to family circumstances, gradually losing contact with Jiamin.
2.Lili Xu(徐 莉莉)
19-year-old local university sophomore.
A high school classmate of Jiamin, she is introverted and soft-spoken. Having moved to this neighborhood only since high school, she occasionally feels out of place.
Her relationship with Jiamin is fairly good, though not particularly close.
4.Mrs. Liu
45 years old, lives in the neighboring building and has known Jiamin since childhood. Mother of Ying Lin.
She knows both Jiamin’s and Xiaoxue’s mothers.
Strict with her own daughter but always warmly smiling toward Jiamin.
As an elder who has watched Jiamin grow up, she is someone Jiamin has been familiar with since childhood.
6.Jiamin’s Parents
Both 48 years old, they jointly run a small tea house in the park.
They are devoted parents who hold high expectations for their only daughter.
Despite modest financial circumstances, they provide her with the best educational opportunities.
Jiamin’s mother was once close friends with Xiaoxue’s mother.
Background
1.About the Protagonist and Xiaoxue:
A Wandering Tea Stallcarries elements of autobiographical storytelling.
Who is Jiamin?
The character is roughly 80% based on my own experiences and 20% inspired by the collective experiences of peers around me throughout my life. Like Jiamin, I am from Sichuan and currently attend university in Shanghai.
Who is Xiaoxue?
The character is modeled after a childhood friend from my elementary school years. We were once very close, and our parents were also intimately acquainted. However, due to various unforeseen circumstances and differences that emerged over time, we gradually went down separate life paths and lost regular contact.
3.About the Neighborhood Community：
The neighborhood is modeled after the old community near my high school where I grew up.
The old community is located in the city center, close to schools, and is therefore considered a "school district neighborhood," with residents primarily consisting of students and their families.
Because most students living here attend the same school, they often develop closer relationships with one another than typical neighbors, extending even to their parents. It is common for children to visit classmates’ homes for meals, do homework together, or even stay overnight.
In China, neighborhood relations are gradually becoming more distant. Against this backdrop, communities with such close-knit connections are increasingly rare and precious. The concept of "home" here extends beyond the immediate family to encompass a wider, geospatially-based network of meaningful relationships.
For myself, as I progressed through university and eventually planned to study abroad, I found myself drifting further from both the neighborhood I had known and the people I had been close to. In A Wandering Tea Stall, I aim to convey my nostalgia for these past experiences and for the unique neighborhood relationships that shaped them.
2.Time and Setting of the Story：
The story is set in Sichuan in 2008, shortly after the devastating Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, and just prior to the upcoming Beijing Olympics.
These events are referenced in NPC dialogues as well as through the in-game radio broadcasts.
Although I was only four years old at the time of the earthquake, the memories remain vividly clear. For all Sichuan residents who experienced the disaster, it is a profoundly painful chapter in their lives. The subsequent Beijing Olympics, however, carried an added significance as a symbol of hope in the aftermath of the tragedy.
My
Former Home (January 2025)
Tea culture is deeply rooted in Sichuan, particularly the local gaiwan tea that A Wandering Tea Stallseeks to recreate.
Across many regions of China, however, tea culture faces a declining trend, with younger generations often showing little interest, while only the older generation continues the practice. In Sichuan, by contrast, tea culture remains vibrant and resilient. It has become a cultural hallmark of the region, with traditional tea houses offering visitors a novel and immersive experience, serving as a distinctive representation of local heritage.
Full Plot Breakdown
1.Beginning:
Narrative Focus: Establish the story background: Jiamin returns from a coastal city to her hometown in the Southwest.
Tone: Gentle, steady, quietly unfolding
Plot：
[Inner Voice]Late June, 2008.
I’d returned from the coastal city where I studied, back to this small town in the southwest.
Summer had just begun. It was about thirty-three degrees out, and the humidity made it feel even heavier.
Cicadas droned nonstop, waves of heat rolled through the alleys, and the mosquitoes just wouldn’t quit…
Another summer was beginning.
2.Character 1: Mr. Li
Narrative Focus: Jiamin meets Mr. Li, the elderly neighbor living downstairs. He brings up Xiaoxue’s situation and hands Jiamin an old photograph, stirring her memories of the past with Xiaoxue.
Tone: A light sadness with a lingering sense of unease
Plot：
Before serving tea
[???]: Jiamin! Long time no see!
[Me]:Hello, Mr. Li! It’s been a while.
Don’t just stand there—sit down anywhere you like.
Want something to drink?
[Uncle Li]: Alright then, let me try your tea.
How about a bowl of Biluochun?
At any time
[Uncle Li]: Time really flies. You’re already in college now.
I remember you as a little girl. You girls used to play together all the time—you, another girl, and sometimes Yingying from Building Three.
That girl… her name was Xiaoxue, wasn’t it? I can’t quite recall, but I remember she sang beautifully.
Ah—wait, I think I still have a photo I took of you all back then.
Let me see… here. Take it, Jiamin.
[Me]: (It’s me, Yingying… and Xiaoxue.)
Thank you, Mr. Li. I can’t believe you kept this for so many years.
After serving tea
(normal situation)
[Uncle Li]: The tea smells wonderful — smooth, not bitter at all.
Biluochun really is best in summer.
Not bad—you’ve learned well from your parents.
[Me]:Thanks. It’s just kids playing house.
(If the tea is too strong)
[Uncle Li]: The flavor is rich… haha, though maybe a little too rich.
[Me]: Sorry, should I make another bowl?
[Uncle Li] No worries, this flavor isn’t bad either.
(If the tea is too light)
[Uncle Li] Compared to your parents, this Biluochun is a bit astringent…
But for a young one, it’s already very good.
[Me] Yes, I still have a lot to learn from them.
(If you used the wrong tea)
[Uncle Li] Hmm, good… really good. But, Jiamin, this isn’t actually Biluochun, is it?
[Me] Sorry, should I make another bowl?
[Uncle Li] No worries, this flavor isn’t bad either.
Ending
[Me]: Would you like another bowl?
[Uncle Li]:No need, Jiamin. I’ll head back now.
Say hello to your parents for me.
[Inner Voice]: Xiaoxue…
I haven’t seen her in such a long time.
[Radio]:“…
Forty days have passed since the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake. Rescue and reconstruction efforts are still underway.
According to the provincial relief command center, as of yesterday, more than twelve thousand temporary settlements have been established across Sichuan…”
Narrative Focus: Jiamin runs into her former high school classmate Lili, who is now attending a local university. Jiamin asks her about Xiaoxue but learns nothing new. Lili urges Jiamin to let go.
Tone: Confusion, regret, and worry
Plot：
Before serving tea
[???]: …Jiamin?
[Me]: Lili! Long time no see.
[Lili]: It really is you.
We haven’t met for what—half a year? After graduation, it’s so hard to see each other.
Jiamin, I want to try your tea. Any recommendations?
[Me]: Do you want it stronger or lighter?
[Lili]: Lighter. I probably can’t handle anything too strong.
Oh—can I use this one?
[Me]: The Ruyao gaiwan? Of course.
At any time
[Me]: By the way, Lili… do you remember Xiaoxue from Class Two in middle school?
She used to live in our neighborhood, the one who walked home with me all the time.
[Lili]:Ah, Xiaoxue. Yeah, I remember her.
[Me]: After middle school, did you hear anything about her?
[Lili]: You two lost touch? You were so close back then.
[Me]: (If the player chooses “She didn’t continue to high school.”)
No.
She didn’t go to high school, I think. She went back to her hometown area and enrolled in a vocational school.
(If the player chooses “Something happened in her family.”)
Her family had some troubles. After middle school, she moved, and we gradually lost touch.
(If the player chooses “She moved away from here.”)
After middle school, she moved away. I think she went back to her hometown and enrolled in a vocational school.
[Lili]: Jiamin… I don’t know what happened between you two,
but honestly, when life paths start to split that far, it’s hard to maintain a friendship.
You can’t ignore it, but you also can’t treat her with pity.
And she’s just living a different kind of life now, that’s all.
[Me]:I just think—back then we were so close...so close to imagine we could ever drift apart.
[Lili]: These things… they just happen.
After serving tea
(normal situation)
[Lili]: Your tea is really good, Jiamin.
[Me]: This tea is naturally gentle and floral. A good beginner’s choice.
[Lili]: I thought drinking hot tea in summer would be too warm, but it’s actually refreshing.
[Me]: Tea is good all year round.
(If the tea is too light)
[Lili]: Jiamin, your tea really is good.
[Me]:This tea is naturally gentle and floral. A good beginner’s choice.
[Lili]: I see… It’s actually quite mild. Even I don’t find it bitter.
I thought drinking hot tea in summer might be too warm, but it turns out it’s actually refreshing.
[Me] Yes, tea is good all year round.
(If the tea is too strong)
[Me] How does it taste?
[Lili] For me… it’s still a bit too bitter.
Sorry, I guess tea just isn’t really my thing.
(If you used the wrong gaiwan)
[Lili] This gaiwan…
Not bad.
Jiamin, your tea really is good.
[Me] This tea is naturally gentle and floral. A good beginner’s choice.
Ending
[Lili]: Jiamin, thank you for the tea.
I’ll head back now.
…If you ever need to talk, you can come find me anytime.
[Radio]:“…And now for more Olympic updates. The Beijing Olympic torch is being carried across the country.
According to the organizers, next month it will enter Chengdu, Dujiangyan, and other areas in Sichuan,
where survivors will welcome the flame that symbolizes unity and hope…”
4.Character 3：Ying Lin and Mrs. Liu
Narrative Focus: Mrs. Liu and her daughter Ying Lin—Jiamin’s childhood playmate and junior schoolmate—come to visit.
Mrs. Liu expresses concern that Xiaoxue’s current residence is very close to the earthquake’s epicenter and shares her own views regarding Xiaoxue’s mother.
Ying Lin gives Jiamin an old wishing bottle the three children once used to write down their childhood wishes.
Tone: Tension (even a hint of anger), softening into warmth and calm upon seeing the wishes inside the bottle
Plot：
Before serving tea
[???]: Jiamin!
[Me]: Yingying, Mrs. Liu! Long time no see.
[Yingying]: Jiamin, what’s the big city like? I want to go to your school someday!
[Me]: It’s modern. But… people move too fast there.
I still feel more at ease here in the southwest.
Playing cards, drinking tea, spending time with the birds — that feels like real life.
[Yingying]: So you’re planning to come back and work here in the future?
[Me]: No…
I don’t know yet.
[Mrs. Liu]: Jiamin, make me a bowl of tea. Dianhong, please.
[Me]: Sure. Yingying, you want some?
[Yingying]: No, I can’t really get used to tea.
At any time
[Yingying]: Jiamin, this photo…That’s me when I was little, right? And you!
And this is… Xiaoxue, right?
[Mrs. Liu]: Xiaoxue… It’s been ages since I last saw her.
Not sure if she’s still in Dujiangyan. That place was much closer to the epicenter than we were. It was hit really hard.
[Me]: So you haven’t kept in touch with her or her family?
[Mrs. Liu]: You know your mom was much closer to her mom than I ever was.
Those two might’ve been even closer than you girls were.
[Me]: (If the player chooses “My mom even treated Xiaoxue like a daughter.”)
Yeah… my mom even treated Xiaoxue like a daughter.
(If the player chooses “They even talked about opening a shop together.”)
Yeah. My mom had even planned to open a shop with Xiaoxue’s mom.
(If the player chooses “We were almost like family.”)
Yeah… we were almost like family.
[Mrs. Liu]: Well, if I may say something…
Back then, I always felt your mom and her mom wouldn’t stay close for long.
I heard Xiaoxue’s mother didn’t have much schooling,
married a man like that without thinking, and even before the divorce she never had a proper job.
[Me]: ……
[Mrs. Liu]: Someone like her… she was never going to live the kind of life your mom does.
It’s not that she’s a bad person… they’re just from different worlds, you know?
[Yingying]: Mom!
Stop saying that.
After serving tea
(normal situation)
[Mrs. Liu]: This tea tastes just like before.
Exactly like your mother’s. So good.
[Me]: Thank you.
(If the tea is too light)
[Mrs. Liu] This one’s a bit lighter than the way your mother made it.
[Me] Sorry… it’s a bit off, isn’t it?
[Mrs. Liu] It’s alright—this tastes good too.
(If the tea is too strong)
[Mrs. Liu] This one’s a little stronger than your mother’s.
[Me] Sorry… is it too bitter?
[Mrs. Liu] It’s fine—this tastes good too.
(If you used the wrong tea)
[Mrs. Liu] This tea… is this even Dianhong?
[Me] Sorry… I picked a different one on my own. How does it taste?
If it’s not what you like, I can brew Dianhong again.
[Mrs. Liu] It’s alright—this one’s good too.
You’re still just like you were as a kid.
Ending
[Yingying]: Jiamin, here — take this.
[Me]: What is it?
[Yingying]: Just look.
We’ll head back first. See you next time!
(A tiny glass bottle. Inside is a small, faded slip of paper.)
[Inner Voice]: Our childhood wishing bottle… I thought I’d never see it again.
Wasn’t Yingying supposed to bury it under the big ginkgo tree by her building? And she kept it instead.
“I want to be a big star…”
Xiaoxue…
The constant cicadas were beginning to get on my nerves.
Even with my heat tolerance, after sitting out here for so long, sweat was starting to bead on my forehead.
Winters here are too short and summers too long.
The temperature stays high, and even in winter, snow is rare.
And on the rare years when snow does fall, it never stays.
This land just can’t hold onto those tiny flakes—
They never belonged here.
5.Character 4: Parents
Narrative Focus: In the evening, Jiamin’s parents come to her tea stand after finishing work at the teahouse. Jiamin finally asks her mother about Xiaoxue. Her mother offers to help Jiamin find her, but Jiamin refuses.
Tone: A faint sense of loss, and a renewed uncertainty and worry when looking toward the future
Plot：
Before serving tea
[???]: Jiamin.
[Me]: You’re back. I was just about to pack up.
[Mother]: We haven’t even had a taste of your tea yet, boss.
[Father]: Make me a bowl of Longjing — with my favorite blue-and-white gaiwan.
At any time
[Mother]: Jiamin, you still have this photo?
Isn’t this Xiaoxue…
Come to think of it, I haven’t been in touch with her for a long time.
The last I heard was back when you were in high school — she wanted to take the art school exams.
[Me]: And after that?
[Mother]: I’m not sure.
You know how expensive those prep classes are.
And her father… after the divorce, he kept dragging his feet with the living expenses.
As for her mother… she’s just too soft-hearted.
[Me]: Xiaoxue lived pretty close to Wenchuan… that’s why I asked.
[Mother]: She’ll be fine…
I can try to find her mother’s contact again.
The old number might not work, but she’s not far. A living person can’t just disappear…
[Me]: No… it’s okay.
Even if we did find her, I don’t think there’s anything left to say.
After serving tea
(normal situation)
[Me]: How’s the tea?
[Father]:The color is lovely, and the flavor is rich.
[Mother]: Your skills have really improved.
(If the tea is too light)
[Me] How’s the tea?
[Dad] The color looks great, but the flavor’s a bit too light.
You’ll need to brew it a little longer next time.
[Mom] Either way, it’s much better than before. Your skills really are improving.
(If the tea is too strong)
[Me] How’s the tea?
[Dad] The color looks great, but the flavor’s a bit too strong.
You should brew it for a shorter time next time.
[Mom] Either way, it’s much better than before. Your skills really are improving.
(If you used the wrong gaiwan)
[Me] How’s the tea?
[Dad] Jiamin, this isn’t the blue-and-white gaiwan.
Still, the color looks great, and the taste… isn’t bad.
[Mom] Either way, it’s much better than before. Your skills really are improving.
Ending
[Mother]: Jiamin, after you graduate —
if you don’t come back, we’ll close the tea house and move to wherever you settle down.
[Me]: You can’t run a tea house over there!
I’m telling you — tastes have changed. Only places like this still drink tea.
Young people in the cities don’t drink tea anymore; they think it’s for the older generation.
They all drink coffee now — to wake up and stay sharp.
[Father]:Tea works the same way, doesn’t it?
[Me]: Yeah, I know…
But there’s always something new…
Simulation Mechanics
Interface Panel
Main Functions:
1.Workstation (Tea Bowl): View and select tea bowls of different materials for brewing. Each material comes with a brief description to guide player selection.
2.Tea Leaves: View and select various types and varieties of tea according to customer preferences. Each tea includes a short description for reference.
3.Add Water (Stove + Kettle): Add hot water for brewing at the appropriate time.
4.Reset: Restart the brewing process in case of a mistake
5.Progress Bar & Lid Opening: After brewing begins, open the gaiwanat the correct time to complete the brewing process.
6.Serve Tea: Present the tea to the customer. Once served, the tea cannot be remade.
Tea Brewing Procedure
Designed based on the authentic brewing process of Sichuan gaiwan tea, the process consists of five steps:
Step 1: Prepare the Vessel
- Description: Choose a gaiwan material that matches the guest’s request. (If the guest doesn’t specify, select one suitable for the type of tea you’re brewing.)
- Operation: View and switch between different gaiwan materials.
Step 2: Add Tea Leaves
- Description: Select the tea leaves requested by the guest and confirm to place them into the gaiwan.
- Operation: View and switch between tea varieties. Click confirm to add the selected tea to the gaiwan. If the wrong tea is chosen, click Reset to start over.
Step 3: Brew the Tea
- Description: Add boiling water from the kettle, then cover the gaiwan and wait until it’s properly brewed.
- Operation: Click the Add Water button to pour boiling water. Once tea leaves are in the gaiwan, the brewing timer starts immediately.
Step 4: Smell the Aroma
- Description: After a short while, lift the lid to let the aroma rise.
- Operation: A progress bar appears beneath the gaiwan. Click the Open Lid button within the green zone on the bar (yellow indicates under-brewing; red indicates over-brewing; green indicates the optimal brewing time) to finish brewing.
Step 5: Serve the Tea
- Description: Serve the finished tea to your guest.
- Operation: Click Serve Tea to complete the brewing round.
Main Parameters
Gaiwan Material Outcome: Choosing the correct or incorrect gaiwan may affect brewing results.
1.Yixing Clay Gaiwan: Handcrafted from Yixing clay, known for its breathability and mild absorbency.
Especially suitable for Pu’er tea.
2.White Porcelain Gaiwan: A Jingdezhen classic—smooth, delicate, and perfectly suited for showcasing the tea liquor’s color.
Especially suitable for green tea.
3.Wood-fired Gaiwan: Fired in a traditional wood kiln. Natural ash deposits and flame marks give each piece a one-of-a-kind character.
4.Monochrome-glazed Gaiwan: Pure, elegant glaze that feels like a single piece of polished, colored jade.
5.Ru Ware Gaiwan: One of the Five Great Wares of the Northern Song dynasty.
Especially suitable for green tea.
6.Jun Ware Gaiwan: Famous for its kiln transformations—reds and blues blend like a “miracle of fire and earth.”
Especially suitable for green tea.
7.Blue-and-White Porcelain Gaiwan: White porcelain decorated with cobalt-blue motifs—simple, classic, and unmistakably Chinese.
Especially suitable for green tea.
Tea Varieties: Outcomes: Choosing the correct or incorrect tea leaves may affect brewing results.
1.Longjing: Green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Light-bodied.
2.Biluochun: Green tea from Dongting Mountain, Suzhou, Jiangsu. Light-bodied.
3.Junshan Yinzhen: Yellow tea from Junshan Island, Dongting Lake, Yueyang, Hunan. Medium-bodied.
4.Mengding Huangya:Yellow tea from Mount Mengding, Ya’an, Sichuan. Medium-bodied.
5.Baihao Yinzhen: White tea from Fuding, Fujian. Light-bodied.
6.Bai Mudan: White tea from Zhenghe, Fujian. Light-bodied.
7.Tieguanyin: Oolong tea from Anxi, Fujian. Medium-bodied.
8.Da Hong Pao: Oolong tea from Wuyi Mountains, Fujian. Full-bodied.
9.Keemun (Qimen Black Tea): Black tea from Qimen, Anhui. Medium-bodied.
10.Dianhong: Black tea from Lincang, Yunnan. Full-bodied.
11.Pu’er: Dark tea from Xishuangbanna / Pu’er / Lincang, Yunnan. Full-bodied.
Optimal Brewing Time for Tea Leaves:
Outcomes: Brewing too short → tea is too weak / Brewing within optimal range → tea has balanced flavor / Brewing too long → tea becomes overly strong.
Different types of tea leaves require different optimal brewing times. Green tea and yellow teaare more sensitive to brewing duration and require stricter timing. White tea and black tea are relatively more forgiving, while Oolong tea and dark tea are suitable for comparatively longer brewing times.
Result Calculation Principles
Result Types:
Five possible outcomes: Normal, Too Strong, Too Light, Wrong Tea, Wrong Gaiwan
Result Determination Priority:
Too Strong / Too Light > Wrong Tea > Wrong Gaiwan > Normal
1.If both Wrong Tea and Wrong Gaiwan occur simultaneously, the result is judged as Wrong Tea.
2.If both Over-brewed/Under-brewed and Wrong Tea occur, the result is judged as Too Strong / Too Light.
3.If both Too Strong/ Too Light and Wrong Gaiwan occur, the result is judged as Too Strong / Too Light.
4.If the brewing time and tea leaf selection are both correct, but the Wrong Gaiwan is used, the result is judged as Wrong Gaiwan. If the correct Gaiwan is used, the result is judged as Normal.
Technical Systems
The game is structured in cycles, with each NPC (customer) representing one complete cycle. Within each cycle, the tea-brewing process is divided into four stages:
1.Before Brewing (Beginning)：Automatically triggered at the start of the game or when switching to a new NPC.
2.During Brewing：Entered automatically after the dialogue in the "Before Brewing" stage ends. The player can now perform tea-brewing operations.
3.After Serving Tea:Triggered once the player clicks “Serve Tea.” Brewing operations are no longer available in this stage.
4.Leaving (Ending):Triggered after the dialogue in the “After Serving Tea” stage ends. Once completed, the game advances to the next NPC’s cycle.
By marking the game flow across these two dimensions—NPCs and tea-brewing stages—the system ensures precise control of the game’s progress, allowing for effective management of the two main features: dialogue and tea-brewing.
Dialogue Management System
Each NPC’s dialogue is divided into four segments corresponding to the four stages of the cycle, and these segments are triggered sequentially as the game progresses.
If the tea-brewing stage ends (player clicks Serve Tea) before the dialogue within this stage has concluded, the system will wait for the brewing-stage dialogue to finish before triggering the dialogue in the After Serving Tea stage.
Main Functions:
1.Basic Dialogue Function: Implements the basic interaction with NPCs.
2.Dialogue Choice Function: Builds upon the basic dialogue system by introducing selectable options for the player, which trigger different NPC responses depending on the player’s choice.
3.NPC Feedback Function: Builds upon the basic dialogue system by incorporating NPC evaluations of the player’s tea-brewing results, leading to different dialogue outcomes.
Tea Making Management System
This system monitors the tea-making process and records variables such as Gaiwan material, tea type, water addition, and brewing duration in real time.
1.Brewing Process Control: For example, when both tea and water are added, the system automatically triggers the brewing timer.
2.Brewing Result Calculation: The system computes the outcome of the tea-making process based on the recorded variables.
3.Reset Function: During the brewing process, the player may click the Resetbutton to restart. In this case, all recorded variables will be cleared. Similarly, once brewing ends or tea is served, all data from the previous session will be reset to prepare for the next round.
4.Information Access: Outside the tea-brewing stage, players cannot operate the tea-brewing system. However, they can still freely switch between different Gaiwanmaterials and tea types to view their respective descriptions.