Chinese tea sets: Enhancing the Experience of Chinese Teas
China has been exporting tea to 90% of the world’s market. Chinese teas are known for their superior quality especially when it comes to taste, texture, and flavour. Among the most commonly consumed beverages, tea ranks first amongst others. Chinese teas are best served with Chinese tea sets since they create a synergistic effect that enhances the experience.
People from different countries name their teas in different ways. In Russia, tea is called “cha’i”, it is pronounced as “chaye” in their local tongue. China and the Philippines have more or less the same local name for tea. In China, it’s called “cha” and “tsa-a” in the Philippines. They may not have the same spelling, but they do sound the same when spoken out loud.
It was only after the 17th and 18th century that Americans and Europeans were able to appreciate tea. Japan started its passion for tea after the 6th century. People around the world started enjoying their teas sometime in their lives, but there is no question that the passion for tea started in China, specifically a small town called Yixing.
Chinese teas are classified into several categories, but most of them are clustered according to how they are processed.
1. Green tea: Green teas are known to be the variety that keeps its natural color during the brewing process. There are a number of green tea leaves that you can find in the market, but the most common are: Biluochun tea of the Jiangsu province, Longjing tea of Zhejiang, and Maofeng from the mountains of Anhui.
2. Black tea: Teas that are fermented before they are baked are classified as black teas. These teas are also known as “red teas” by tea lovers. The best tea leaves for black teas are: Suhong of Jiangsu, Qihong of Anhui, and Dianhong of Yunnan.
3. Wulong tea: A wulong tea is a special mix of tea that comprises of half of the green tea and half of the black tea. This type of tea is mostly popular in the south-eastern parts of China that includes Fujian, Guandong, and Taiwan.
4. Compressed tea: “brick teas”, as what most people would call them, are distinguished by their unique shape. They are created in such a way that they can easily be used by consumers. The Hubei, Yunnan, Hunan, and Sichuan provinces supply most of these compressed teas.
5. Scented teas: Scented teas are popular because of their aroma. Magnolia and Jasmine flower extracts are the used in conjunction with tea to create an exotic aroma while adding a unique twist to the flavour.
When serving teas at afternoon tea gatherings and formal tea parties, it is proper that tea sets be used with tea. Tea sets are made of high quality porcelain, bone china, or silver, they are to be attractive as much as they are durable.
Yixing is a type of Chinese tea set that is made of heated clay. These types of tea sets are popular in China and are believed to be the cradle of tea brewing. Historically, teas are brewed in these pots and served as soon as they are cooled down to a desired temperature. Yixing was named after a small town in the Jiagsu province of China.
To assess the quality of these clay pots, we will have to look for a number of indicators. When tapping the body of the pot with another pot, a distinct sound should be heard. A good quality clay pot should have a metallic like sound.
A different way to assess the quality of a clay pot is to fill it up with water then close its lead. If the water flows smoothly out of the pot, it tells us that the pot is made to serve its purpose.
Yixing pots are unique among all the other Chinese tea sets since it has the ability to enhance the natural flavour of tea, as it is used over a period of time. This is made possible by brewing tea inside the pot and allowing the tea to coat the insides of the pot. Washing the pot with soap will take away the coat, therefore, it is advisable to use warm water instead. Yixing is popular among tea aficionados because of this unique ability.
Teas have different flavours and mixes to choose from and undeniably it has become part of the everyday lives of most people. Teas are more flavourful when they are served in their proper tea sets. Yixing, the oldest Chinese tea set available, is the best tandem when enjoying a cup of Chinese tea because it is not only the flavour of the tea that matters, but also the essence and tradition as well.
Author S. Cheng is a home and lifestyle magazine editor based in Beijing, China. She has a niche for Chinese Tea Sets and many other oriental style of living. Check out her website about the Chinese Tea Sets here. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
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