A brief discussion on the etiquette of Chaoshan Kung Fu Tea
I am from Chaozhou and I love drinking tea, especially Kung Fu tea, so I checked some information on the Internet and combined it with my personal understanding. Let’s talk about the etiquette in Kung Fu tea. Chaoshan people call tea “tea rice”. Tea is just like rice in the minds of Chaozhou people. It is enough to show that Chaoshan people are addicted to tea and tea and rice are inseparable. Kungfu tea is deeply loved by people in Chaoshan. Trendy people like to meet friends over tea. During the slow drinking, chatting and laughing, people exchange information and deepen their feelings. It is different from ordinary tea drinking. The first difference between the two is that it is not like drinking tea in big mouths and big cups, but tasting it in small cups. The meaning of tea tasting is not so much to quench thirst, but to taste the tea. The fragrance of Chaozhou Kung Fu Tea is about expressing love through tea. Secondly, Chaozhou Kung Fu Tea pays special attention to the etiquette of drinking tea. After the tea is finished, the host and guest always give way, and then invite the elders and distinguished guests to taste it first. The rim of the cup touches the lips, and the tea surface greets the nose. , smell the fragrance of tea, and drink it all in one sip. The etiquette of Kung Fu Tea is the traditional Chinese "tea ceremony".
Oolong tea is a favorite among fashionistas. Previously, I favored Tieguanyin and Wuyi rock teas from Anxi, Fujian, but now I prefer Dancong tea from Chaozhou.
The tools used in traditional Kung Fu tea are basically ceramics. One bowl, one pot, three tea cups, one tea tray, one tea pool, one pot, one pot, and one stove.
A tureen is used to brew tea; three small teacups are used to drink tea, no matter how many people drink tea, there are three cups; a tea tray and a tea pool are It is used to hold three small tea cups, and one is placed under the tea tray to hold the waste water from washing the cups. Pots are used to store water for making tea; stoves and pots are used to boil water.
Wine has its own way of drinking, tea has its own tea virtues, and Chaoshan Kung Fu Tea also has its own unique tea rules.
Kung Fu tea is usually served by four guests, but it can also be served by more than one person. The host personally operates the tea. First, light the fire and boil water. When cleaning the tea set, wait until the water boils. Rinse it with boiling water and put the tea leaves into the pot. The tea should not be too much for about seven minutes. Pour it into the pot and then cover it with foam. To make tea, pour boiling water along the inner edge of the teapot mouth. The water column should not rush straight in from the center of the teapot, because that will "break the tea bladder" and destroy the taste of the tea. Brewing tea should be like calligraphy, not in a hurry, not slow, and done in one go. The distance between the kettle and the teapot should be relatively large. This way, it is called "high brewing". It is said that "high brewing" can make the heat penetrate directly to the bottom of the jar and cause the tea foam to rise, which is not only beautiful, but also makes the tea taste more fragrant. The first brewed cup is not for drinking, but is used to pour the cup. The purpose is to create the spirit of tea and an atmosphere that is full of charm. It's called washing tea. After washing the tea, make the second shot. At this time, the tea leaves have been brewed, and the tea is ready for pouring.
There is also something to pay attention to when pouring tea: there are four words: low, fast, even and exhaustive.
Low, the tea must not be poured too high. If it is high, the aroma will be lost and foam will appear, which means disrespect for the guests; "fast" is to prevent the aroma from dissipating and maintain the heat; "even" is to Keep each tea cup evenly filled with tea, which is called "Guan Gong patrols the city, Han Xin orders the troops". The so-called "Guan Gong patrols the city, Han Xin orders the troops" actually means putting the tea cups together and letting the tea cups take turns to sift. Don't sift a full cup before leaving. Sift another cup, which will make the tea color uneven, to show the same respect for the guests; "exhaust" means not to let the remaining water stay in the pot, so that the next brew of tea will not have a bitter taste.
The amount of tea sifted into each cup is also very particular. If the tea juice is less than half, it means that the host looks down on the guests. This is a code of contempt. In this case, it is best to leave first. If the tea cups are full, it means you have stayed too long. If this is not an "expulsion order" from the host asking you to go back, it means the host does not want to make tea anymore. Therefore, it is generally appropriate to sift tea at eight points, and pay attention to moderation.
After the host has finished sifting the tea, he cannot drink it first. He must wait until someone else brings the cup before he can hold the cup. This is exactly the opposite of the wine philosophy of "dry first, then serve first". When the host drinks from the cup with the words "do it first as a sign of respect", he is breaking the taboo of Kung Fu tea. The first cup of tea must be given to the first guest on the left hand first, regardless of their status, age, or gender.
When drinking tea, it is also very particular about which cup of tea should be taken. Generally, the cup of tea next to it is taken first according to the gesture, and the last person takes the middle cup. If you don't understand the rules, you can take the cup before anyone on both sides has taken it away. Taking the middle cup first will not only be considered disrespectful to the host, but also disrespectful to other people present. If the host urges the guests to drink tea, the host will tap the tea table with the fingers of his left hand, extend his right palm upward, and say " please" gesture. After each cup of tea, wash the cup with boiling water and then pass the heated cup to the next person. This custom is said to be a good way for people to show their unity, friendship and mutual humility.
After you have a drink, you usually have to wait until everyone present has had a drink before drinking the second round. If another guest comes while you are drinking tea, you have to replace it. The tea leaves are brewed again to show respect for the new guests.
Tea tasting is also very important. A small cup should be divided into three sips, one sip, two sips and three sips for aftertaste. No matter how your taste is, You should not drink the tea in one gulp, but let the tea circulate on your tongue, stimulating the "enthusiasm" of every taste cell on the tongue for the taste of tea. Only then can you fully appreciate the aroma of the tea before swallowing it. This is not considered rude. After drinking, one has to "show the bottom of the cup" to the host. On the one hand, it expresses sincere acceptance of the host's kindness, and on the other hand, it expresses praise for the host's superb skills.
To truly drink tea, you should drink tea calmly and leisurely - Chaoshan Kungfu Tea is the sublimation of this realm. A person sits at the tea table, not sitting upright, but sitting casually, calm and relaxed, no matter whether Mount Tai collapses in front of him or the water of the Yellow River floods in front of him, the Chaoshan Kungfu Tea Culture focuses on "tasting". It It shows elegance, expresses etiquette, expresses friendship, reflects quality, and expresses oneself. The delicate and thoughtful, methodical, leisurely, and harmonious atmosphere of the tea-making process shows the noble sentiments of fashionable people who value "harmony."