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.

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.

So what elements are most proper in a Chinese tea set? Well, every good set includes tea bowls, a tea tray, tea saucers, and the brewing teapot. There is an art form at play here, and part of the brewing and drinking of tea is the enjoyment of the artistic elements of the various components of the tea set.

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.

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.

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.

Several other items may or may not be included in a Chinese tea set, including tea set cover cloths, tea plats, and trays. Some sets are rather large, but don't forget that often the more traditional, historical sets were quite simple, and don't assume that more is better. The storied tradition of drinking tea is time honored, so get yourself on the right path to proper tea drinking by buying a Chinese tea set for yourself soon.

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

Author Dugan Venfield contributes to several established web sites, on anti aging products and health news subjects.
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