Tea as a Experience

Today we went into a small tea shop to buy some tea. At first it looked like one of the many tea shops I pass on a daily basis: walls lined with tea, plenty of small decorated pots and cups on display. However, this time was a whole new experience.

The three of us sat around a small, low table while a very friendly Chinese gentleman let us taste different teas. What stood out to me wasn't the tea exactly, although it was very high quality, and I could see how some people could get into tea tasting the same way others analyze wine or coffee. What really stood out to me was the process of making tea.

On the table sat an array of small cups, tea pots, porcelain containers, tongs, strainers and clay figurines. First a couple of small scoops of the dried leaves were put in a small container and hot water was poured over them. That water was drained off, kind of like rinsing the tea leaves. Our small glasses (about the size of shot glasses but half the hight) were rinsed using the first tea water using wooden tongs. Then leaves were seepe about 30 seconds before the tea was strained into a pot and poured into our mini tea cups.

The tea expert explained that this process could be repeated with the same leaves up to nine times. He also explained that less hot water is used for green teas while hotter water is used for black teas. We got to taste a whole range of tea from flower and fruit tea to oolong green tea and a dark nutty tea. They were each unique and very tasty.