Drinking Modern Tea with an Antique Chinese Tea Set

Without doubt, the one part of the Chinese culture that most people know about it the consumption of tea.  For hundreds of years, Chinese herbal tea has been a part of daily life for the Chinese people.  Sometimes, tea is enjoyed for a special festival, ceremony, or just to relax but it always involves some type of Chinese tea, such as green tea, Chinese black tea, Chinese white tea, flowering tea, and so on, along with a beautiful Chinese tea set.

The process of making and serving tea with a Chinese tea set involves several steps, each important.  Once you learn these steps, you could use your own tea set with the preferred tea so you make a perfect beverage every time.  Therefore, it starts with buying the right tea set first, so the brewing process is done with accuracy.

What is a Chinese Tea Set

The Chinese tea set consists of a tea pot, small tea saucers, tea bowls, and tea trays, which are made in many different styles, colors, and designs.  Every tea set made has specific characteristics that celebrate the Chinese life.  Therefore, more than just a tea set, these accessories for making and serving healthy tea, these sets are considered by the Chinese people as a form of art.

Chinese tea sets are a valued item for the Chinese people, with meaning having designs dedicated to the culture of tea drinking.  In fact, you will find that these sets are broken down into two primary categories.  The first group includes tea sets that have high artistic value and the second group includes Chinese tea sets used for everyday use.

Obviously, the tea sets valued for its artistry are commonly used in authentic Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies or perhaps a wedding ceremony.  To protect the set, they are carefully in cabinets with closing doors where they can also be put on display.  Then for Chinese tea sets that are used for quiet alone time or time spent with friends are not as fancy and typically stored in the regular kitchen cabinet.  These tea sets are used for daily meals in China just as people in the United States use glasses.

Selecting Tea Sets

When it comes time to select a Chinese tea set for the exotic tea you enjoy most, you will be surprised at how many stores sell them and for a good price.  However, the type of tea set you find would be unique to the type of tea brewed, as well as geographical location.

A prime example would be in the northern and eastern regions of China, floral sets were the most common, which were used daily to serve a variety of herbal teas.  Typically, the tea pots would be large to accommodate enough water for the entire family.  In addition, most of these tea sets were made from ceramic and beautiful.

Now, if you were to shop for Chinese tea sets in the Kangnam area of China, a location where green tea is the tea of choice, the pot would also be made from ceramic but fitted with a lid.  Then in Guangdong, Taiwan, and Fujian, oolong tea varieties are the preferred tea, which means a kettle would be used for brewing.

Keep in mind that if Hong or Gongfu tea were going to be brewed, it would be important to choose only Chinese tea sets made of ceramic, which would enhance flavor.  However, the pristine types of Chinese tea, such as Tontingbileichun, Junshanyinzhen, and Xihulongjing, the Chinese people prefer clear cups and saucers.

If you have ever dined at a Chinese restaurant where green tea is served, it was probably brought to the table in a very tiny cup.  The same is true for green tea enjoyed in China.  The leaves are very fine so smaller cups are standard.  If the tea were placed in a larger cup, followed by the tea ball filled with green tea leaves, the water to tea ratio would be way off.  What happens is that leaves brew too quickly, causing poor flavor and even discolored leaves.

If you enjoy green tea and want a larger quantity, you might consider purchasing a high quality thermos that would keep the tea at the appropriate temperature.  That way, you could use the appropriate ratio of tea leaves to water for the best flavor possible.  Interestingly, when you shop for Chinese tea sets today, opposed to ancient sets, you will find that many include a thermos along with everything else.

In addition to all of this information pertaining to Chinese tea sets, you could also add other accessories to your collection such as tea set covers, cleaning clothes, serving spoons, serving trays, plates, and even specialized containers for brewing.