To the Chinese population, tea is an extremely important part of each day. Tea consumption and preparation has a large role in Chinese culture. Having been tea drinkers for many hundreds of years, the Chinese have great experience and knowledge about tea and tea making.
There are several steps involved in the proper preparation of tea. The first step is selecting the most appropriate tea set. This is crucial to the process of preparing good tea, and the role that the set plays is more than decorative, as the proper brewing of tea is part of the process.
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.
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.
Floral or herbal teas, for example, are drunk more often in eastern and northern regions. And since floral teas have a tradition of using larger amounts of water, larger teapots are used for boiling. Frequently, large ceramic pots are used on a daily basis, and they can be chosen for size depending on the number of guests or family members at the meal.
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.
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.
Furthermore, when drinking a tea that has fine leaves, the proper Chinese tea set to select would be one that has small teacups. They are more appropriate for these teas than the large cups. The reason for this is that there would be too much water when these types of teas are poured into a large cup. Too much water will brew fine leaves too quickly, discoloring the tealeaves, and negatively impacting both the fragrance and taste of the tea. Some people prefer the use of a thermos to keep green tea warm, which they find influences the color and flavor of the tea positively. It's little wonder then that most of the modern Chinese tea sets now include a thermos.
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.
