It's All About Tea — gong fu cha

The gaiwan has existed as part of traditional Chinese tea drinking since the 12th century, if not earlier. However, it was not always implemented in the same ways as it is in today’s gong fu ceremonies. Back in the day, people would drink tea directly from the gaiwan. (Read more)

When, where, and by who, the first cha hai was used by is unknown even though now it is an irreplaceable part of gong fu brewing. It is especially important to use cha hai for denser teas. Ensuring that the participants of a tea ceremony have the equal experiences is an integral part of tea culture that should not be overlooked. (Read more)

Are you thinking of getting into the world of tea but don't know where to start!?

Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here!

Let’s say you have a tea you want to try. The next step: brewing!

Brewing is much easier than you think. If you’re new to tea, the important thing is not to overthink it.

We've made some short, straight-to-the-point videos on how to brew teas both Western style and Chinese style. (Read more)

When the weather is warm, all we want to do is go outdoors. And as much as we love enjoying tea in the comfort of a home, there is plenty of time for that during the chilly winters. Summer, on the other hand, is the perfect time to enjoy tea outdoors, with fresh greenery all around and the sounds of mountain streams...

Although packing for some quality gongfu cha time outdoors can be intimidating. What to bring? How do we make sure the teaware doesn't break? What about the water? What if the tea gets crushed? (Read more)

So we’ve already covered the importance of clay when drinking tea, and in the previous post we discussed some important points when investing in Yixing teaware. But how about all the other teaware that’s out there? Read more for tips on purchasing the right teaware for your Chinese tea ceremonies or solo drinking!