Tea. A salve to sooth the tired soul. A respite from the world and all its troubles. Much has been said of tea over the millennia of its existence, and all that has been said cannot come close to describing the experience one has.
Anyone who enjoys tea - in any amount - in any way, shares a unique experience with the drink. Cultures have taken this experience and have made it their own; creating ceremonies that encompass the nuances found within each culture. One of the ceremonies that has had the biggest impact on my tea journey and has fueled my passion for tea is the Chinese Gong Fu ceremony.
The Gong Fu ceremony begins with preparation and cleansing. Before tea makes its way to the table, the tea master that conducts this ceremony must prepare all of the essential equipment necessary to conduct the ceremony.
- A tea pot/Gaiwan (traditional Chinese brewing dish)
- A pouring cup/pot
- Strainer
- Smelling cup
- Drinking cup
A thorough cleansing of the equipment with boiling water is used to purify the equipment. The outside of the teapot is cleansed with the boiling water before the inside of the pot is cleansed. After the cleansing, a small amount of tea (2 teaspoons for a 6oz pot) is placed inside the teapot. The teapot is filled with water at a temperature corresponding to the tea being brewed (ex: 185degrees for white tea; 205degrees for black tea).
Tea Ceremonies: Chinese Gong Fu
Weston Martin