Drinking Tea has been a tradition in China since ancient times, yet not everyone knows the correct way to do so. Even fewer can present the entire tea ceremony with finesse. The tea ritual is a spiritual legacy left by our ancestors, and it would be a beautiful thing if we could carry it forward. Here are the thirteen steps of the tea ceremony:
First Step: Clean Hands and Appreciate Utensils
This involves washing hands, which is very important for hygiene. First, introduce the tea into a lotus leaf and invite guests to admire the tea. Then, appreciate the utensils: Jingdezhen porcelain or Yixing purple clay Teapots are preferred for their suitability in enhancing the tea's flavor. This step helps set a relaxed mood before drinking the tea.
Second Step: Warm Cups and Teapot
Rinse all the tea utensils with boiling water. This ensures cleanliness and also preheats the utensils, which enhances the aroma of the tea. Pour boiling water into the purple clay teapot, fairness cup, aroma cup, and tasting cup. Some people refer to this as warming the utensils.
Third Step: Dragon into the Palace
Place the tea leaves into the teapot. This step, though simple, can be performed with decorative flair to enhance the tea ceremony.
Fourth Step: Rinse the Tea
Pour boiling water into the teapot, allowing the water to briefly touch the leaves, then quickly pour it out. This step removes any impurities on the surface of the leaves and filters out poorly processed leaves.
Fifth Step: brewing
Pour boiling water into the teapot again, nodding the spout three times while pouring. Do not fill the teapot completely. This step is commonly used in daily tea preparation and is known as the “three nods of the phoenix” in performances, a gesture of respect towards guests.
Sixth Step: Breeze over the Surface
Pour water above the rim of the teapot and use the lid to remove floating tea leaves. This step ensures that only tea water is consumed without any floating leaves.
Seventh Step: Seal the Teapot
Cover the teapot with its lid to preserve the aroma of the steeped tea. Pouring boiling water over the teapot serves the same purpose.
Eighth Step: Distribute Cups
Prepare to serve tea by using a tea clip to group aroma cups and tasting cups on saucers, making it easier to serve.
Ninth Step: Jade Liquid Returns to the Pot
Gently pour the tea from the teapot into the fairness cup, ensuring each guest receives tea with consistent color, aroma, and taste. This step provides both spiritual enjoyment and sensory stimulation.
Tenth Step: Distribute Tea
Pour the tea into each guest's aroma cup. Traditionally, tea is poured until the cup is seven-tenths full, as a sign of respect for the guest.
Eleventh Step: Serve Tea
Present the cups to guests with both hands, adhering to the etiquette of serving tea. Serving tea is rooted in ancient Chinese hospitality.
Twelfth Step: Smell the Aroma
This step allows guests to appreciate the tea individually. Guests pour the tea from the aroma cup into the tasting cup and gently inhale the remaining aroma. It is best if they appear entranced, expressing appreciation and admiration for the host's tea.
Thirteenth Step: Savor the Tea
Finally, guests can Drink the tea, taking small sips from the tasting cup with three fingers. They may continue to do so during conversation, highlighting the importance of tea in social interaction.
The tea ceremony process is described above. We hope that through this introduction, everyone will understand the true essence of each step, which is meaningful and significant. Although we don't need such elaborate steps for everyday tea drinking, when receiving guests or performing tea art, these steps should be carried out properly.