กก

Kung Fu Tea

    Kung Fu Tea is a very popular kind of tea in Fujian and Guangdong province. The origin of it's name has many explanations. Some said it's because the methods for processing this kind of tea is very difficult, just like Chinese kung fu. Some said it needs your time and patience to taste this kind of tea, for the taste is very strong and bitter. The other said it's because it needs special skills if you want to make excellent tea.

    Kung Fu Tea is a complete form of Tea Tao including spirit, etiquette, skills and taste. Commonly, there are 4 people to have Kung Fu Tea. People take their seat according to their age, generation and status. The seat on the host's right side is considered the most honorable one. After everyone is seated, the host begins his work. He put tealeaves into the teapot, about 7/10 of the teapot. He pours in boiling water into the teapot, shakes and pours out into all the cups. Remember that you can't drink this cup of tea, this is for cleaning the cup. When the host pours tea into your cup the second time, you can have it. This time, the host will put 4 cups altogether and pours when every cup is 7/10 full. If the host is very skillful, the teapot should be empty when every cup is 7/10 full, and the remaining tea should be dropped into every cup. After that, the host will give a cup of tea with respect to his guests, again, according to their ages and status. And the guest should not drink the whole cup of tea once, you should take it slowly and politely. When you finish this cup of tea, you should reverse the cup to show your thanks and sincere to the host. About 5 or 6 cups of tea, tea becomes light and tasteless. The host will then pick out all the tealeaves to let his guests see the origin form of tealeaves, and implies he won't use those tealeaves again.

    Kung Fu Tea is very popular, no matter rich people or those in poverty, young or old.

กก