Chinese tea ceremony 1. One of the first written accounts about tea ceremonies dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when the serving of tea was named chadao or “the way of tea.” The Chinese tea ceremony was born as a result of the respect for nature and the need for peace and was rooted in traditional Chinese philosophies. The highest pursuit of a traditional tea ceremony is harmony, peace, enjoyment, and truth. Tips on Chinese tea ceremonies 2. Six important aspects must be taken into account for a successful Chinese tea ceremony. 3. Mindset . Chinese believe that one’s mindset can be readily transferred to others. Therefore, before performing the tea ceremony one needs to relax and think about positive aspects of life so that the tea ceremony can be performed in a calm and relaxed manner. 4. Tea selection . An oolong tea variety is usually used for a traditional tea ceremony and sometimes, Pu’er tea can also be used. The tea variety must be carefully selected in advance and both physical and spiritual characteristics should be taken into account. Physical characteristics refer to fragrance, taste and shape of the tea, while spiritual ones refer to the history, name and origin of the tea. 5. Water selection . Good tea needs to be prepared with good water. Only pure and clean water can be used to ensure the good taste. 6. Tea ware. Refined tea ware is needed to ensure the right brewing and atmosphere of the ceremony. The items must be both practical and aesthetic, and must be a perfect yin- yang combination. 7. Ambiance. A peaceful and calm ceremony needs a comfortable, quiet and clean room. Chinese people usually use artwork to enhance the overall atmosphere and to make their guests feel relaxed and fully enjoy the ceremony. 8. Technique. The tea and atmosphere are not perfect without flawless technique to match them. The manner of serving should be relaxed and graceful, which can be reflected mostly through hand movements and facial expressions. Tea sets used for Chinese tea ceremonies 9. A traditional Chinese tea ceremony comes with a refined tea set. The most important item is the brewing vessel, which is usually a teapot. Another mandatory utensil is the tea pitcher used to ensure the consistency of the tea flavour. A tray is also part of the ceremonial tools. In an informal ceremony you can also use a deep, flat-bottom porcelain plate to hold spills. A dark-coloured tea towel or tea cloth can be very useful for a decent tea ceremony. A tea spoon is needed to put the tea leaves into the teapot and then clean them out after brewing A tea timer is needed to set the time so as to brew your tea properly. Snifter cups are used to retain the fragrance of the tea. Lastly, tea cannot be drunk without teacups. Also, a tea strainer is mandatory, but sometimes it is a part of the tea pitchers. Steps of a Chinese tea ceremony 10. Given the tools needed in the ceremony, the tea ceremony may seem complicated. Actually, the traditional tea ceremony is fairly easy with logic and simple steps. 11. Preparing the tea set . In this step, the performer of the ceremony needs to heat the water in a kettle, place the teapot and cups in the hot water, and then take them out from the water in a few minutes. 12. Appreciating the tea . In this step, the tea is passed around for participants to examine and admire its appearance, aroma and quality 13. Brewing the tea . The tea leaves are poured into the teapot. The amount of tea and water will vary with the type of tea, its quality, and the size of the teapot. Next, place the teapot into a bowl, raise the kettle at shoulder height and pour the heated water into the teapot until it overflows. After pouring the water, scoop away bubbles and tea leaves on the surface and put the lid on the teapot. 14. Enjoying the fragrance of the tea. Pour the tea into the tea pitcher and fill the snifter cups with tea. Then, place the teacups upside down on top of the snifter cups, which is said to bring prosperity and happiness. Next, the performer grabs the cups and flips them so the snifter cup is inverted into the teacup. Then the snifter cup is removed to release the tea into the teacups. The tea is usually not drunk, but poured into the bowl and discarded 15. Refilling the teapot and steeping the tea . The teapot is then refilled with fresh hot water For oolong tea, the steeping time usually ranges from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Then, the tea is poured from the teapot into the tea pitcher, from which the tea is poured into snifter cups and then transferred to the teacups. 16. Tasting the tea . Good etiquette dictates that tea drinkers cradle the cup with both hands and enjoy the teas aroma before taking a sip. One cup of tea is often drunk in three sips. The first sip needs to be a small sip, the second sip is the largest, main sip, and the third sip is to enjoy the aftertaste. After everyone has finished the first round of tea, an unlimited number of subsequent rounds of tea can be made. The oolong tea leaves usually can be reused up to five times in a row. 17. The ceremony ends with the used tea leaves being put into a clean bowl for the guests to compliment the tea's quality.