Tea Sets a Great Tradition in China
by Dugan Venfield
Tea is highly regarded by many Chinese people, and is widely considered as one of the necessities to start a day. The preparation and consumption of tea plays a significant role in the Chinese culture. Since the Chinese have been drinking tea since time immemorial, they have developed a wealth of knowledge and experience with tea and tea making.
When considering the process of tea making it is important to recognize that there are important steps involved in tea making. The first of these is the selection of the proper Chinese tea set. It is said that choosing the proper tea set is crucial in the preparation of tea. It plays a particularly vital role in brewing tea.
What then, are the proper components of a Chinese tea set? A good set includes tea saucers, tea bowls, a teapot, and a tea tray. There are various design characteristics that are traditional, and the sets themselves often become a significant part of the artistry of drinking tea and making tea.
In fact, the value of some tea sets is astronomical, depending on the design and artistry, as well as the age and other factors. These sets would not be used for everyday consumption, but rather would be considered more like art pieces in the home, and perhaps kept in lovely cabinets on display for most of the year. Only on special occasions would they be brought forth for a special tea ceremony, such as at a wedding. The other tea set in the home would be used for everyday meals and small gatherings, and would also be highly valued and considered part of the family, and part of every meal.
Selecting a tea set for everyday use can depend on the type of tea that the user will be drinking. This can vary by region as well, so different regions specialize in different tea sets.
For example, herbal teas and floral teas are consumed more frequently in the northern and eastern regions of China. Because floral teas generally use larger teapots to boil the water, people in these regions usually choose large teapots for daily use. Most commonly, these are ceramic pots, and they can be custom chosen to accommodate the number of people served at each meal.
In the Kangnam area, it is green tea that is most popular. Therefore using a ceramic teapot with a lid is most appropriate. In areas like Fujian, Taiwan and Guangdong, where people most commonly drink oolong teas, they usually use a regular kettle to brew the tea.
Either a ceramic pot or a regular tea kettle is suitable for brewing Hong or Gongfu teas. However, when drinking some of the high quality teas such as Ton-ting-bilei-chun, Jun-shan-yin-zhen, or Xihu-long-jing, using clear glass cups is considered most proper.
Furthermore, when drinking a tea that has fine leaves, the proper Chinese tea set to select would be one that has small teacups. They are more appropriate for these teas than the large cups. The reason for this is that there would be too much water when these types of teas are poured into a large cup. Too much water will brew fine leaves too quickly, discoloring the tealeaves, and negatively impacting both the fragrance and taste of the tea. Some people prefer the use of a thermos to keep green tea warm, which they find influences the color and flavor of the tea positively. It's little wonder then that most of the modern Chinese tea sets now include a thermos.
Tea plates, tea set cover cloths, teaspoons, tea trays, and tea-brewing containers may be included along with those previously mentioned items in a Chinese tea set. The key is to get yourself a set and get started enjoying this ancient tradition.
Author Dugan Venfield contributes to a variety of established web magazines, on anti aging products and health news subjects. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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