"The gongfu tea ceremony or kung fu tea ceremony (Chinese: 工夫茶 or 功夫茶), is a kind of Chinese tea ceremony, involving the ritual preparation and presentation of tea. It is probably based on the tea preparation approaches originated in Fujian and the Chaoshan area of eastern Guangdong. The term literally means "making tea with skill". Today, the approach is used popularly by tea shops carrying tea of Chinese origins, and by tea connoisseurs as a way to maximize the taste of a tea selection, especially a finer one."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gongfu_tea_ceremony
I like to experience different tea ceremonies and unique ways to drink tea. When I was in CO I had a really neat tea experience. With friends we had a Chinese tea ceremony. It was so fun, I decided I want to find a set and have my friends over and serve tea that way.
I found a set on line. It had been around $85, but it was returned and was on sale for around $50. My aunt Joyce gave it to me for my birthday!!
Material: ceramic
1 Tea tray with drain - brewing tray, or a deep, flat bottom porcelain plate to hold spills (spills are typical)
strainer, a tea strainer sometimes built into the tea pitchers
1 teapot: Tea pots are used to brew and pour tea, and you may use a tea pot or a traditional Gaiwan to brew your tea.
1 big tea cup with lid: - brewing vessel, Yixing teapot, porcelain teapot, or a covered bowl Gaiwan
2 Pinming tea cups (fish cups): are what you pour the brewed tea into from your fair cup to actually drink the brewed tea from, the western equivalent would be the teacup, although Pinming cups are much smaller, shallow and thin. Remember, brewing tea Gongfu style is about fully enjoying every aspect of the tea to the fullest.
6 Fragrance Smelling Cups : used for smelling the fragrance of tea, especially for oolong tea. The appearance of aroma cup is taller and more slender than tasting cup. Usually, one aroma cup should be matched with a tasting cup which of the same material and color. The fragrance smelling cup is intended to capture the aroma and essence of the brewed tea, and is matched with the Pinming cups.
10 Tasting Cups
A smelling cup enables to appreciate all tea fragrances.
A testing cup enables to fully appreciate tea flavors.
1 tea bowl: used as the receptacle for used tea leaves and refuse water
Tea Tools-
Tea ceremony sets are an additional set of tools to allow you to have a Gongfu (and other) tea ceremonies. Tea ceremony sets in China are also known as Junzi Liujiantao and normally contain a:
Tea Vase - used to hold your utensils such as your tea tweezer, tea pin, tea funnel, tea spoon and tea scoop.
set of Tea Scoop - used to take dry teas out from tea bag or tin into your Gaiwan or teapot.
Tea Digger Spoon - used to transfer tea leaves from the tea holder to your tea pot or your Gaiwan
Tea Funnel - Tea Funnel is a cylindrical funnel used to direct the flow of tea into Yixing teapot, and also used to prevent the tea from overflowing.
Tea Tweezer - a tool for picking the tea cup to protect your fingers from heat, or taking tea leaves out from Yixing teapot.
Tea Pin - for clearing the small tea leaves which blocking the filter holes in Yixing teapots, so that the water can go to the spout smoothly.
-tea knife or tea pick for clearing the teapot spout and separating leaves from tea cakes
a calligraphy-style brush with a wooden handle, which is used to spread the wasted tea evenly over the tea tray to ensure no part dries out and the tea "stain" is spread evenly to ensure a pleasing color to the tray
1 Tea Canister - tea holder, tea leaf holder for weighing and dispensing, or a wooden tea spoon to measure the amount of tea leaves required
1 Tea Towel- tea towel or tea cloth, usually dark colored. The tea towel is a small but very necessary part of the tea ceremony as it is used to clean up any spills, and water or tea stains, and is usually made from either cotton or linen cloth. Often the tea towel will match the tea set, however you may use your own cloth as a tea towel if you prefer.
1 Tea Pitcher - tea pitcher (chahai), or any matching size decanting vessel, used to ensure the consistency of the flavor of the tea
Tea Pet - A tea pet, usually made from the same clay as a Yixing teapot, is fun to have. One kind of "tea pet" is a "tea boy." Prior to the tea ceremony, he is soaked in cold water. Hot water poured over him during the tea ceremony will make him "pee." Traditionally these 'pets' are classical Chinese figurines, such as a Dragon, Lion Turtle, or Toad, and are used as a receptacle over which the wasted tea is poured, usually to develop a patina (I switched out the tea pet that they sent, they were boys and girls peeing, I switched to this little girl, I like to think of her praying)
A jade Budha also came with this set, but I tossed him. I did not want to have that in my home.
One piece came broken. I tried to glue it back together....it's holding for now.
One piece came broken. I tried to glue it back together....it's holding for now.
Whose coming for tea?????
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