Tea Sets a Great Tradition in China

Tea is highly regarded by many Chinese people, and is widely considered as one of the necessities to start a day. The preparation and consumption of tea plays a significant role in the Chinese culture. Since the Chinese have been drinking tea since time immemorial, they have developed a wealth of knowledge and experience with 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.

So what exactly comprises a Chinese tea set? The components of Chinese tea sets are referred to as teapots, tea bowls, tea saucers, and tea trays. In modern terms there are different types of Chinese tea sets that exhibit certain designs and characteristics. The tea sets play a significant role in the artistry of tea making and tea drinking.

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.

It is not very difficult to select the right tea sets and identify their use. The selection of a Chinese tea set for every day use depends primarily on the types of the tea that the owners will be drinking. To some degree it even depends on in what region the people live.

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.

Gongfu or Hong teas are suited to either regular kettles or ceramic pots. But some of the more special teas such as Jun-shan-yin-zhen, Ton-ting-bilei-chun, or Xihu-long-jing, call for clear glass cups instead of the regular tea cups.

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.

Author Dugan Venfield contributes to several established web magazines, on anti aging products and senior health topics.
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