TEA TIME : PART 6

TEA SET AND TEA TRADITION

Every country has a special tea tradition.
There are breakfast tea and afternoon tea on western, ocha in Japan, and many more.
In Japan, the tea ceremony simply referred to as ocha (tea). 
The term ocha no keiko could mean learning practice serving tea manners or etiquette learning as a guest in the tea ceremony.
Tea is not just poured with hot water and drunk, but as an art in its broadest sense. 
Tea ceremony reflects the personality and knowledge of the host.

 

In China, the presentation of drinking tea is not accompanied by a dish of food.

Chinese people really notice the taste and aroma of the tea.  
They also like to compare one type of tea with other teas. 
The tea leaves is put to cover the base circle pot.
Teapot placed on the larger bowl, then pour boiling water to overflow.  
The water will overflow was accommodated in a large bowl. 
Then the pot was closed about two minutes.
Water poured into a glass of tea and then transferred to a bowl.  
After removing the water of tea, sipping a cup of tea aroma as a mark of respect to the host has been serving tea. After that, then the tea can be  drunk.

A tea set (tea ware) is a set of dishes sold in a group for use at afternoon tea or a formal Tea Party.
For daily use, people prefer to use a mug.  
The main wares are tea pot and cups.
A Chinese tea set used to serve guest which contains the following items; teapot, tray, cups and sieve (strainer).
In the tradition of drinking tea in China, there are two containers are used. A glass and a bowl. Glass serves to inhale the aroma of tea, while the bowl serves tea to drink water.

 

At this time, tea ware was made of porcelain, glazed ceramic, glass, enamel or crockery.
It is important to understand that these ancient tea sets were not the creamer/sugar bowl companions we know today. 
Western tea set usually consists of tea pot, cups with saucers, creamer pot and also sugar pot.

 

A strainer is often used when tea is made with tea-leaves in a teapot. 
Some teas, especially green teas and delicate oolong teas, are steeped for shorter periods, sometimes less than 30 seconds. 
Using a tea strainer separates the leaves from the water at the end of the brewing time if a tea bag is not being used.

Tea set for 'Teh Poci'

On Java tradition, we can find term 'teh poci'.
This tea is a distinctive aroma and taste somewhat 'Sepet' (a little bit bitter).
The dish is served with sugar beverages and more fitting stone drunk while still warm rather hot.
When brewed tea into a special hot water in the earthenware pot, the aroma becomes a typical so-called 'Teh Poci' served with rock sugar.  
Teh means tea, and poci means teapot.
That makes it feel to be like that because when the tea is brewed hot, porous earthenware which was reacted with tea and give rise to distinctive aroma. 
In this pot, steam hot tea stuck in a hard ceramic wall so that any type of tea, the scent will not be damaged.

How about your special tea tradition!
Have a nice weekend with your tea!