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Tea Sets a Great Tradition in China

Tea is highly regarded by many Chinese people, and is widely considered as one of the necessities to start a day. The preparation and consumption of tea plays a significant role in the Chinese culture. Since the Chinese have been drinking tea since time immemorial, they have developed a wealth of knowledge and experience with tea and tea making.

Proper tea preparation includes several steps. Firstly, one must select an appropriate tea set, depending on a variety of factors. This is an aesthetic consideration, as well as a scientific one, because the proper brewing of the tea depends in part upon the utensils used in the process.

So what elements are most proper in a Chinese tea set? Well, every good set includes tea bowls, a tea tray, tea saucers, and the brewing teapot. There is an art form at play here, and part of the brewing and drinking of tea is the enjoyment of the artistic elements of the various components of the tea set.

Some Chinese tea sets are so highly crafted that they are extremely valuable, and reflect the storied tea culture in China. There are two main kinds of tea sets. The first is the sets used in everyday life, day in and day out for making tea. The second is the sets with great artistic value, which are generally used only in very special tea ceremonies, such as wedding ceremony. Often, these sets are kept on display in beautiful cabinets, and are only rarely brought out for actual use in a tea ceremony. Both sets, however, are considered part of the family, and even though a set may be used every day, it is still a vital part of the 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.

For example, herbal teas and floral teas are consumed more frequently in the northern and eastern regions of China. Because floral teas generally use larger teapots to boil the water, people in these regions usually choose large teapots for daily use. Most commonly, these are ceramic pots, and they can be custom chosen to accommodate the number of people served at each meal.

Green tea is more popular in the Kangnam region, so ceramic teapots with lids are more likely to be seen here. In other areas, such as Guangdong and Fujian, the favorite tea is oolong, and a regular kettle is often used for brewing.

By comparison, experts suggest using either a ceramic pot or a regular kettle when brewing Gongfu tea or Hong tea. However, clear glass cups are the proper pieces to use when drinking a high quality tea such as Xihu-long-jing, Jun-shan-yin-zhen, and Ton-ting-bilei-chun.

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.

Several other items may or may not be included in a Chinese tea set, including tea set cover cloths, tea plats, and trays. Some sets are rather large, but don't forget that often the more traditional, historical sets were quite simple, and don't assume that more is better. The storied tradition of drinking tea is time honored, so get yourself on the right path to proper tea drinking by buying a Chinese tea set for yourself soon.

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Author Dugan Venfield contributes to several established web sites, on anti aging products and senior health topics.
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