Tea is highly regarded by many Chinese people, and is widely considered as one of the necessities to start a day. The preparation and consumption of tea plays a significant role in the Chinese culture. Since the Chinese have been drinking tea since time immemorial, they have developed a wealth of knowledge and experience with tea and tea making. When considering the process of tea making it is important to recognize that there are important steps involved in tea making. The first of these is the selection of the proper Chinese tea set. It is said that choosing the proper tea set is crucial in the preparation of tea. It plays a particularly vital role in brewing tea. So what elements are most proper in a Chinese tea set? Well, every good set includes tea bowls, a tea tray, tea saucers, and the brewing teapot. There is an art form at play here, and part of the brewing and drinking of tea is the enjoyment of the artistic elements of the various components of the tea set. These Chinese tea sets are dedicated to the established tea culture in China, and are highly valued. Tea sets are actually divided into two basic categories. The first group is comprised of those sets that have high artistic value, and the second group is those that are used in every day life. It is to be expected that the sets with high artistic value are typically used only in special tea ceremonies, such as a Chinese wedding ceremony. They are often kept in beautiful cabinets that serve to display them and are presented proudly during a tea ceremony. On the other side of the coin, those sets that are more common are used simply in every day life. For most people in China, tea plays a vital role in every meal. Selecting a tea set for everyday use can depend on the type of tea that the user will be drinking. This can vary by region as well, so different regions specialize in different tea sets. For example, herbal teas and floral teas are consumed more frequently in the northern and eastern regions of China. Because floral teas generally use larger teapots to boil the water, people in these regions usually choose large teapots for daily use. Most commonly, these are ceramic pots, and they can be custom chosen to accommodate the number of people served at each meal. In the Kangnam area, it is green tea that is most popular. Therefore using a ceramic teapot with a lid is most appropriate. In areas like Fujian, Taiwan and Guangdong, where people most commonly drink oolong teas, they usually use a regular kettle to brew the tea. By comparison, experts suggest using either a ceramic pot or a regular kettle when brewing Gongfu tea or Hong tea. However, clear glass cups are the proper pieces to use when drinking a high quality tea such as Xihu-long-jing, Jun-shan-yin-zhen, and Ton-ting-bilei-chun. Furthermore, when drinking a tea that has fine leaves, the proper Chinese tea set to select would be one that has small teacups. They are more appropriate for these teas than the large cups. The reason for this is that there would be too much water when these types of teas are poured into a large cup. Too much water will brew fine leaves too quickly, discoloring the tealeaves, and negatively impacting both the fragrance and taste of the tea. Some people prefer the use of a thermos to keep green tea warm, which they find influences the color and flavor of the tea positively. It's little wonder then that most of the modern Chinese tea sets now include a thermos. Other elements that may be included in a Chinese tea set include trays, tea set cover cloths, and tea plates. Of course, there are always those who prefer the oldest traditions, and stick to the basic sets, without modern extras. Either way, the point is to buy a set for yourself so you can begin enjoying proper tea.
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