Elements of a Chinese Tea Set

For hundreds of years Chinese culture has included an important tradition in each day. Tea preparation and consumption are considered a key element to Chinese culture, and proper tea brewing and drinking are important social elements.

Proper tea preparation includes several steps. Firstly, one must select an appropriate tea set, depending on a variety of factors. This is an aesthetic consideration, as well as a scientific one, because the proper brewing of the tea depends in part upon the utensils used in the process.

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.

These Chinese tea sets are dedicated to the established tea culture in China, and are highly valued. Tea sets are actually divided into two basic categories. The first group is comprised of those sets that have high artistic value, and the second group is those that are used in every day life. It is to be expected that the sets with high artistic value are typically used only in special tea ceremonies, such as a Chinese wedding ceremony. They are often kept in beautiful cabinets that serve to display them and are presented proudly during a tea ceremony. On the other side of the coin, those sets that are more common are used simply in every day life. For most people in China, tea plays a vital role in every meal.

The various regions of China specialize in different teas, and the best tea set to use will also vary by region. Depending on the kind of tea being brewed, a particular set might be more appropriate.

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 region, green tea is the favorite, so lidded ceramic teapots are most commonly seen. Other regions favor oolong tea, so in Fujian or Guangdong provinces, a regular kettle will be used for brewing most of the time.

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.

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.

Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com

Author Dugan Venfield writes for a variety of well-known online magazines, on natural products and alternative health themes.
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