Tea drinking can have a calming or lifting effect on the body, mind, and spirit. It can be a solitary or social activity. Tea can be enjoyed in a casual setting or a ritualized ceremony. Beautiful furniture and tea sets have been created to enjoy the art of Asian tea.
In Asia, tea ceremonies are different according to the specific country & culture. Below is a compilation of various tidbits regarding Asian tea:
- Tea ceremonies & rituals contain an adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday life, as well as refinement, an inner spiritual content, restraint, & humility.
- A rare & valuable commodity, initially tea was mainly consumed by priests and noblemen for medicine.
- Tea has had a significant influence on the development of Chinese culture and is often associated with literature, arts, and philosophy.
- Tea originated in China and dates back to the fourth century.
- The Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony is a tradition in which couples getting married show respect to their parents. The bride usually prepares the tea and then serves it to the elders with the groom.
- In China, light finger tapping is a custom for thanking the tea master or tea server.
- Today, Taiwan is renowned as the maker of some of the world’s most high-quality oolong and green tea. It has also gained a good reputation as the origin country of bubble tea (tea mix that includes milk and tapioca balls).
- The Wu-Wo tea ceremony, which originated in Taiwan, prompts its participants to disregard knowledge, appearance, and wealth to create a group with equal dynamics and no prejudice.
- The four key principles of the Japanese tea ceremony are: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.
- Although some important blends are cultivated with Java and Sumatra, an Indonesian tea culture never developed and is rather a mix of different tea cultures and ceremonies.
- India’s tea culture is strongly influenced by the British colonial times, which has affected the preparation as well as the frequency with which tea is drunk.
- Tea's revered status in Sri Lanka is reflected by the fact that it still holds the country’s ancient name of Ceylon.
- In Tibetian tea culture, tea bricks (cut and pressed tea) are used instead of tea leaves. Tibetian tea culture features two main teas: sweet milk tea and butter tea (tea, salt, and yak butter).
- Myanmar’s tea culture is unique because it features tea that is not only drunk, but also eaten in the form of lahpet.
- Thai tea is served chilled and further enhanced with condensed milk and sugar.
- Vietnam is one of the largest tea exporters. The Vietnamese tea ceremony is only performed during weddings and other religious rituals.
For more information about Asian Tea Culture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_tea_culture
http://www.arborteas.com/pages/traditions.html
http://www.datehookup.com/content-asian-tea-culture-ceremonies.htm
