To the Chinese population, tea is an extremely important part of each day. Tea consumption and preparation has a large role in Chinese culture. Having been tea drinkers for many hundreds of years, the Chinese have great experience and knowledge about 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, floral teas (which are considered herbal teas) are most commonly consumed in the eastern as well as northern regions of China. Since large teapots are commonly employed to boil the tea in water when brewing floral tea, this would be the teapot most commonly selected for everyday use in those regions. These teapots are generally ceramic, and their size varies according to the number of people to be served.
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.
By comparison, experts suggest using either a ceramic pot or a regular kettle when brewing Gongfu tea or Hong tea. However, clear glass cups are the proper pieces to use when drinking a high quality tea such as Xihu-long-jing, Jun-shan-yin-zhen, and Ton-ting-bilei-chun.
Small tea cups are most appropriate for fine-leaf teas, rather than large cups. The reason is that large cups allow the ratio of water to tea to change, and the leaves will brew too quickly, discoloring the leaves and changing the fragrance and flavor of the resulting tea. Another interesting element is the addition of a modern thermos to the traditional tea set. Many people enjoy keeping green tea in a thermos, to enhance the flavor and color. You can find thermoses in many of the sets for sale today.
Other elements that may be included in a Chinese tea set include trays, tea set cover cloths, and tea plates. Of course, there are always those who prefer the oldest traditions, and stick to the basic sets, without modern extras. Either way, the point is to buy a set for yourself so you can begin enjoying proper tea.
By: Dugan Venfield
