Did You Know that People Celebrate a "Ceremony" with Green Tea in China?
http://www.pkblogs.com/nicolas-solari/
Tea cleanses the soul and makes the mind free...; Drink tea and forget the stress of
everyday life – is what it says in many specialized books and literature about green tea.
Chinese naturopathy has long known about the positive effects of green tea on our
health. The results are astonishing. Green tea prevents cardiovascular diseases and
the development of malignant tumors, protects against viruses and bacteria, and is
good for our digestion. Because of its healing effect, as well as its valuable ingredients
(such as alkaloids, saponins) and vitamins (B1, B2, biotin, vitamin K), the favorite drink
of the Chinese has also become very popular with us in Europe.
The Chinese Tea Ceremony:
For Japanese and Chinese monks, drinking tea has always been a sacred act, a
solemn ceremony. They have developed the enjoyment of this drink into a culture.
One of the most famous tea ceremonies is the Jihn Shan ceremony in the Jing
mountain temple in the province of Zhe-jiang. To honor the guests, the rite is celebrated
by the abbot personally. All of those present first receive a cup of tea. However, they do
not immediately drink it. The lidded cup is first opened in order to enjoy the fragrance of
the tea, then the color is assessed, and only then does the person drink the tea in small
sips.
People begin to discuss, classify the tea, praise the abbot as the tea master, and
exchange opinions and experiences related to religious and philosophical issues only
after the third cup of tea.
Afterwards, it's also possible to talk about topics such as friendship and everyday life.
When drinking tea, it is always important to pay attention to the ambience. The tea room
should not be too large but always very tastefully decorated. The tea should be enjoyed
in a very tranquil, serene, and relaxed way. This makes it possible to forget everyday
life and develop a completely new, previously unknown sensitivity for the fine aroma of
the green tea.
The appropriate utensils include the tea caddy, teapot, tea ship, mixing pot, bamboo
scoop, bamboo spoon, tea towel, and drinking cups
If you would like to enjoy a festive tea hour, begin by preparing a table at which all the
guests can sit comfortably
First pre-warm the teapot with hot water. Then pour this water into the mixing pot.
Use the bamboo scoop and bamboo spoon to fill the tea leaves into the teapot. As you
do so, briefly explain the types of teas to the guests.
Pre-warm the drinking cups with the hot water from the mixing pot.
The teapot with tea leaves is filled halfway with hot water, which is immediately poured
into the mixing pot. This is called "warming the tea leaves" (which is only done with the
varieties of green tea that are very tolerant of high temperatures – such as Oolongs)
Now pour water at the required temperature (approx. 75 to 80 degrees Celsius) into the
teapot, close the lid, and set the timer. (Let valuable varieties stand for a max. of 3 to 5
minutes. This will have a strong effect and be very stimulating).
As soon as the timer goes off, pour the tea from the teapot into the mixing pot.
From the mixing pot, first pour the tea into pre-warmed high "tasting cups" (but it can
also be poured directly into the drinking cups).
The guests should first enjoy the fragrance of the tea and then pour it into the drinking
cups and savor it in small sips.
It's also acceptable to give your guests the moist, brewed tea leaves to chew. When the
tea is good, these leaves also have a fine aroma, which makes it possible to recognize
the high quality of the tea.
This ceremony is carried out within the scope of onboard events on our Chinese ships
by our employees. We wish you much enjoyment with it….
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