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Many types of Chinese tea are excellent for the Gongfu method, including black, green,
Gongfu Cha requires time, patience, and effort to master, similar to martial arts. This 1000-
year-old tradition of brewing and drinking tea, which is not formal as a Japanese tea
ceremony, denotes a specific method for brewing teas in earthenware pots, known as
Yixing teapots.
The tea is poured into the three little cups to treat visitors or to serve as a daily beverage.
On such occasions, Gongfu Tea drinking has three functions. The first one is to quench
thirst, and the second is to pass time. Traditionally water is heated on a little charcoal-
burning stove, which takes time, and while waiting, participants praise the tea leaves. The
third function is to show respect. Since only three cups are used, when there are more
than three people waiting to drink, the most respected people drink first.
The basic Gongfu set includes two tiny Yixing teapots (or sometimes a teapot and a tea
pitcher), a tea bowl, six teacups, a tray with a slotted lid on which to place all items, and a
timer.
Serve Gongfu in the following way:
The bouquet and flavor of tea by the Gongfu method is savored similarly to a vintage wine.
Gongfu Cha requires time, patience, and effort to master, similar to martial arts. This 1000-
year-old tradition of brewing and drinking tea, which is not formal as a Japanese tea
ceremony, denotes a specific method for brewing teas in earthenware pots, known as
Yixing teapots.
The tea is poured into the three little cups to treat visitors or to serve as a daily beverage.
On such occasions, Gongfu Tea drinking has three functions. The first one is to quench
thirst, and the second is to pass time. Traditionally water is heated on a little charcoal-
burning stove, which takes time, and while waiting, participants praise the tea leaves. The
third function is to show respect. Since only three cups are used, when there are more
than three people waiting to drink, the most respected people drink first.
The basic Gongfu set includes two tiny Yixing teapots (or sometimes a teapot and a tea
pitcher), a tea bowl, six teacups, a tray with a slotted lid on which to place all items, and a
timer.
Serve Gongfu in the following way:
- Fill a teapot about one-third full with loose tea leaves.
- After boiling water, fill the teapot to overflowing (the excess water coats the outside
and falls into the dish) and then discard the water immediately. (Note: The first time
you pour boiling water over the tea is for cleaning the leaves, opening the leaves up
so they can infuse better, and warming the pot. - Fill the teapot again to overflowing, cover it with its lid, and wait for only 30 seconds.
Now pour the first cupful. (Grasp the handle with your thumb and third finger, with
your index finger, bracing the lid as you pour. NEVER cover the air hole on the lid.)
With traditional Gongfu Cha, several thimble-size cups are lined up edge to edge
around the pot, and the tea is poured rapidly along the circle so that each drinker
receives tea of equal strength. - Empty the pot completely after each infusion. If the tea steeps too long, it turns
bitter. Each pot should provide four or five infusions.
The bouquet and flavor of tea by the Gongfu method is savored similarly to a vintage wine.
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About Camille's Tea:
Camille's Tea, based in the San Antonio, Texas area, offers a wide variety of gourmet teas, including flavored teas, traditional teas, green teas,
herbal teas, decaffeinated teas, decaf teas, caffeine free teas, and iced teas, and lavender, Shea butter, Chantal teapots, Lomonosov teapots, tea
infusers, tea accessories, Bearington Bears, tea linens, neck warmers, Herbal Concepts slippers and eye pacs, and Pre de Provence bath and
body products. We also feature multiple tea of the month clubs. Read more >>
Camille's Tea, based in the San Antonio, Texas area, offers a wide variety of gourmet teas, including flavored teas, traditional teas, green teas,
herbal teas, decaffeinated teas, decaf teas, caffeine free teas, and iced teas, and lavender, Shea butter, Chantal teapots, Lomonosov teapots, tea
infusers, tea accessories, Bearington Bears, tea linens, neck warmers, Herbal Concepts slippers and eye pacs, and Pre de Provence bath and
body products. We also feature multiple tea of the month clubs. Read more >>