It's All About Tea — gong fu cha

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!

Yixing teaware is renowned for being the perfect teaware when it comes to gongfucha but unfortunately, there is still some myth and confusion surrounding these teapots... (Read more)

By brewing tea in a large vessel, we allow for the tea to open up all at once, giving us all it has in one go. You may not recognize all the subtleties from opening up the tea’s taste gradually, but you will get a cup of delicious tea with a nice aroma nonetheless. 

On the other hand, if you choose to make Gong Fu tea for yourself or for friends it becomes more of an experience. Gong Fu differs from the Western way of brewing tea in that it allows tea to open to its full potential gradually. (Read more)

Here's some information on the most overlooked and disregarded stem in the process of tea making: the cup. Pottery is a patient, start-to-finish alchemy that places importance on the tiniest details for the perfect outcome; just like tea cultivation. Every clay has a different chemistry, and every cup has a different taste. (Read more)

"Ichi-go, Ichi-e". This Zen phrase meaning 'once in a lifetime' or literally "one time, one meeting"epitomizes the simplest reminder for the necessary state of mind when conducting any tea ceremony. It stamps out the meditative quality inseparable from the roots of true tea ceremony: Remaining present in the beauty of the infinite moment, with all its transparency and impermanence. This essence holds true today just as much as it did when these words were first spoken. (Read more).