Introduction: Gong Fu Style Tea
Basic Gong Fu Tea Set: Sharing Pitcher, Teacup, Gaiwan, Tea Dish (Red Blossom)
Gongfu Tea Ceremony
At a glance, Gongfu tea is a Southern Chinese tradition of brewing and enjoying tea using a larger quantity of tea leaves, less water and more frequent steeps to maximize flavor (and fun!) in every sip.
“Gongfu” literally means an effort that is applied with heart & soul.
Ex. My grandmother put in so much gongfu into preparing this Thanksgiving feast for the whole family.
Gongfu is a word that comes from what we know as the Cantonese martial art “Kung-fu” which indicates something that requires mastery through self-cultivation and practice, similar to how one would conduct their yoga practice, for example. Watch this Gongfu History & Context video for a more in-depth understanding.
Formal Ceremony
In a formal sense, Gongfu tea is a ceremonious method of preparing tea where the brewer, or Tea Master, is deeply engaged in applying intentional mindful effort into preparing tea leaves. In applying all this gongfu, the master is cultivating the heart and mind by appreciating and honoring the process.
Informal Ceremony
When I’m with friends, I typically engage in the less formal version of Gongfu tea, where it isn’t much of a ceremony at all. It involves preparing brews for multiple people as a host or “Tea Master”, offering small accoutrements/nibbles to pair with the teas, and just hanging out with good conversation. People may decide to bring their own snacks or we may even pop open a bottle of wine or champagne when the tea brewing winds down. I get the sense that when my guests depart, they leave feeling utterly joyful and just a bit more grounded within than when they arrived.
…Stay tuned for a post on how to get started conducting your own Gongfu Tea at home or on the road!
Be thinking about! —
Is there a space in your living space where you can quietly enjoy tea on your own?
What part of your dwellings could you have people over for tea?
Additional items: cups to share, metal strainer, tea scoop, tongs.
P.S. My memory of Gongfu Tea with family
After family dinners on the weekend, my aunt and uncle often invited our family over to his tea room in the back yard of his house to enjoy some tea. It was a quaint retreat of karaoke, Asian snacks galore (will talk more about the perfect snacks in another post. For now, check #7 of Ways to Up your Tea Time Game), his beautiful orchids, shrine & incense, and all the other signage/trappings of a dark-wood themed Cantonese sitting room from an older time period. I was always intrigued by the whole experience even before I honed my skills in identifying the nuances of tea flavors. Most importantly, the sharing and tasting of tea created a space where the family can come together to spend quality time in the presence of a beautiful tea experience.
xo MinTea