Tea Ceremonies

In modern times, there are three major ways to drink and appreciate tea.

1. Gaiwan (cap-cup) Tea. Drinking tea with a cap-cup is the most prevalent way adopted by imperial family, officials and civilians. The typical illustration can be found in Viewing and Admiring the Moon, a picture drawn by artist Leng Mei living in Emperor Kangxi's reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

2. Chaniang (Mother Tea). This has been the most popular way adopted by ordinary people. In this method, tea is poured from a big pot to several small cups. The typical illustration can be found in A Spring Market in A Time of Peace and Prosperity, drawn by Ding Guanpeng living in Emperor Qianlong 's reign in the Qing Dynasty.

3. Kung-fu Tea. Developing from the method recorded in Classics of Tea written by Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Kung-fu tea is popular in southern Fujian area and Guangdong Province . In this method, tea is brewed with spring water. When the water is boiling, put Wuyi tea into a Yixing pot and brew it with the boiling water, and then pour warm water over the pot. The specialty of this method is to heat the pot with warm water both inside and outside in order to bring out the best quality of the tea.

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