Surely many of you have heard of the tea ceremonies of Eastern countries. They are mysterious, meditative and amazing in their unhurriedness.

We are of the opinion that there are two sides to any ceremony. Just like a human being. The outside and the inside. The outside is the beauty of the atmosphere, the peaceful process and the unhurriedness. Inside is the chemical composition of the tea, which is beneficial to the human body. And if these two sides interact properly, it will create harmony.

In our case, this symbiosis will lead you to that very “tea state” that will allow you to relax, rest, relieve stress and at least spend time in good company.

China is the ancestor of Asian tea ceremonies. But it’s worth realizing that both in China and later in Japan, the tea ceremony was much more “about people” than “about tea.” That is, it was first and foremost a way for people to interact with each other. Deep, theatricalized, taking place on a special level. During the tea ceremony, qualities such as hard work and diligence, as well as respect and knowledge, are transferred from one participant to another, and the tea master takes special care and attention to the tea making process while the guest expresses gratitude and appreciation.

The name Gung Fu Cha (Chinese: “Kung Fu Cha”, “Gong Fu Tea”, “Gong Fu Ch”) is derived from the words “tea” (Chinese: “cha”) and “Kung Fu” (Chinese: “Kung Fu”), an oriental martial art. The word combination “Kung Fu” in Chinese has many meanings: hard work, skill level, diligence. A true Chinese tea ceremony incorporates all of these skills and abilities.

The Gong Fu Cha ceremony began its development back in the golden age of tea, during the Song Dynasty. But only later, with the development of tea culture, it spread to many parts of China. One cannot help but think of the legendary provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and even the island of Taiwan.

The secret of “Gong Fu Cha” is hidden in the subtleties of this process. Absolutely everything plays an important role here: the participants of the ceremony, a calm atmosphere, properly selected tea ware and utensils, and, of course, the tea. The preparation process itself also depends on the master of the ceremony, as the brewing skill requires diligence and patience.

Before you start tea drinking, you need to prepare the utensils and the tea itself, as well as bring the water to a boil and drain it into a pre-warmed thermos. The volume of the kettle or gaiwan should correspond to the number of participants in the tea party. Next, pour boiling water into the tea pot and leave it for 1-2 minutes to warm up.

First, the tea leaves are demonstrated to the guests, and after pouring into the teapot and shake slightly, covering with a lid. The tea master may also open the lid and invite the guests to smell the aroma of the slightly moistened leaves. Only then is the tea poured full of boiling water and the lid is closed again.

It is not customary to drink the first brew, it is a tea spill. Thanks to this, the strongly twisted teas are washed of small impurities and slightly swell. The hot water from the pial is poured over the kettle for its additional heating. There is also an opinion that the first brew is sprinkled on figurines of gods to ward off evil spirits.

After that the tea is immediately brewed again (from 20 to 50 seconds, depending on the type and quality of tea) and poured into tea pairs (high bowl + pial). The tall bowl is then covered with a smaller bowl. Next, the master turns both bowls over with one hand and places them on a special stand. Now the guests should first inhale the aroma of tea from the high bowl and only then take small sips from the smaller bowl, which was used to cover the high one. Good, quality tea should leave a deep, enveloping aftertaste in the mouth.

The tea master reopens the teapot and gives the guests the opportunity to smell the aroma of the unfolded tea leaves. Traditionally, guests are invited to smell the lid of the teapot, as the multifaceted aroma inside the teapot leaves its delicate sweet fragrance on the lid. By a similar action, the quality of the tea is tested. Then the brewing process is repeated, only the infusion time is increased.

The tea is brewed until its aroma, taste and color are completely gone. The second and third brews bring out the fullest flavor of the tea, in general it can be brewed from three to eight times, depending on the variety.
to eight times, depending on the variety.

At the end of the ceremony, the tea leaves are taken out of the teapot and shown to the guests. The tea party participants can look at the size of the unfolded leaves, appreciate their flavor, and thus pay homage to the tea and the tea master. After the tea party is over, all the tea utensils are thoroughly washed and dried on a special low table with a tray.

If you would like to touch this glorious Chinese tradition, we recommend you to take a closer look at our two varieties:

• Da Hong Pao is a bit more woody, with baked notes of flowers and dried fruits.
• And Li Shan – complex, at first even oily and floral, and on the second spill already with fresh notes.

In Japan, the tradition of tea ceremonies originated from the Chinese one, which the Japanese supplemented. In the Land of the Rising Sun, special tea gazebos are built for tea ceremonies, usually in the courtyard of the house, where guests and hosts gather to drink fragrant and delicious tea, green or floral.

The master of the house usually does not drink tea in the process, he is here in the role, so to speak, of an organizer. He is obliged not only to accommodate the guests (they sit on mats or on low benches), but also to make sure that everyone is comfortable. During the tea ceremony, various conversations take place. For example, this is often how creative people gather to discuss future plans. Also a lot of importance is attached to the design of the gazebo itself, the path leading to it, the garden and accessories, because the Japanese believe that all these little things affect the overall mood.

It is interesting that in Japan before the ceremony is served a large cup of strong tea, from which all the guests drink in a circle, as well as special cakes “namagashi”. And only after that, fresh light tea is poured into the cups.

To summarize, any tea ceremony is a way to solve complex psychological problems, not just a tea party. To maintain contacts with friends and relatives, to achieve reconciliation after serious disagreements, or simply to express respect for the older generation.