Chinese tea sets: Preserving the Essence of Chinese Teas

Posted by Sammia Cheng on December 25th, 2009 filed in Tea

China, being the homeland of tea, exports more than 90% of tea worldwide. Between coffee, tea, and cocoa - tea is the most consumed beverage in the planet. Chinese use Chinese tea sets for their teas for the reason that they have been believed to be inseparable since the dawn of time.

Tea has become a part of life for most cultures, but it is said that most tea trees from other countries have their origin in China. People from different cultures call tea in different names. In China, tea is called "cha", more like "tsa-a" in the Philippines. Russians on the other hand, call their tea as "cha'i", pronounced as "chaye".

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The adoration for tea obviously started in China. Japan, during the 6th century, started to share this love for tea, while it was not until the 17th and 18th century that Europe and America joined its Asian neighbours in this passion of tea drinking.

Chinese teas are classified into several categories, but most of them are clustered according to how they are processed.

1. Green tea: The unique ability of green tea is that it can maintain is natural color despite being brewed. The best green tea leaves are found in the following provinces in China: Longjing tea of Zhejiang, Maofeng tea of Anhui, and Biluochun of the Jiangsu province.

2. Black tea: Black tea or "red tea" is the only type of tea that is fermented before it is baked. The tea leaves that work best with this class of teas are: Qihong of Anhui, Dianhong of Yunnan, and Suhong of Jiangsu.

3. Wulong tea: Wulong teas are popular in the south-eastern parts of China that includes Taiwan, Guandong, and Fujian. Wulong tea is simply a mixture of black tea and green tea.

4. Compressed tea: Compressed teas are also known as "brick teas" because of their shape. Most compressed teas are shaped in such manner so that they can be readily stored and used by consumers. The provinces that cater to these types of tea include Hunan, Hubei, Yunnan, and Sichuan.

5. Scented tea: This type of tea mixes fragrant flowers with tea leaves to create an aroma that is unique to teas. The most commonly used flowers are magnolia and jasmine.

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.

In China, the most popular type of tea set is made of Yixing clay. Historically, teas were believed to be brewed from these Yixing clay pots and are served to the guests after it has been cooled enough to drink. The Yixing tea set is named after a town in the eastern province of Jiangsu, China.

Assessing the quality of a tea set may post a challenge for most people, but it is easy than what most people think. The easiest way to check its quality is to tap two pots together. If a metallic sound can be heard, then we can be assured of its quality.

Another way of assessing the quality of a tea pot is to fill it with water until the water touches its rim. To see if the pot is made of high quality material, smooth flowing water should be seen when pouring the pot. Do not forget to close the lead before pouring the water since pressure inside the pot is needed to properly assess it.

When brewing from a Yixing pot, a coat like material may appear, this coat is significant since this retains the natural flavour of the tea as it is used over time. Washing it with soap will erase the coating, therefore, it is better to wash it with warm water and air-dry it. Yixing is very 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 lifestyle magazine editor situated in Beijing, China. She has a fascination for Chinese Tea Sets and many other oriental style of living. Check out her website about the Chinese Tea Sets here.

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