Of the three major beverages in the world—tea, coffee and cocoa—tea has the largest consumption group. China is the hometown of tea. Tea from China, along with her porcelain and silk, began to be well-known in the world over more than a thousand years ago and has since always been an important Chinese export. Today more than forty countries in the world grow tea and Asian countries produce 90% of the world’s total output. All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China. The word for tea leaves or tea beverage in many countries are derivatives from the Chinese character “cha”.

■Tea Tasting

Although simply grown and harvested, tea is a drink that is full of flavor complexities and nuances. So, in people’s drinking of tea, pay much significance on the act of “savoring”. “Savoring tea” is not only a way to discern good tea from mediocre tea, but also how people enjoy in their reverie and in tea-drinking itself.

◇Don’t drink tea when it turns cold or when it’s scalding hot. It is ideal to drink tea between 56 and 62 degree Celsius. You’ll notice that its color darkens and its fragrance fades if leaving freshly brewed tea for a while.

◇You can appreciate the fragrance of the tea through sniffing the fragrance cup. Don’t fear to put your nose in it! It is very extraordinary that how strong the aroma is from this tiny cup. To enjoy the aroma of your tea is the first step in enjoying the taste.

◇After putting the tea in your decanter, go on pouring hot water onto your tea leaves in your teapot. Remember not to let infuse too long and taste 3 to 7 pots of your tea. Again, the number of times you can use a batch of tea relies on the type and grade and you should ask your retailer.

◇Drink tea slowly. Some types of tea cost thousands of RMB per bag. Never ask for sugar or ice for your tea.

◇Take it with two hands when someone hands you a cup of tea. Use two hands when you give someone a cup of tea. (One hand on the bottom, one hand on the side). When drinking tea, to use two hands is polite.

◇When someone pours you more tea, to touch the side of the teacup as they pour it is polite, and be sure to say “thank you”.

■Tea Serving

Tea and the art of serving it properly have always been of utmost importance. Whenever guests visit, it is necessary to prepare and serve tea to them. Tea can be served in delicate and quite a fun manner.

◇Before serving tea, you may ask them for their favors as to what type of tea they prefer and serve them the tea in the most appropriate teacups.

◇Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Let it infuse for at least five minutes (but not much longer) for complete tea taste and nutritional value.

◇To prevent having the tea spill from the top of the pot, always put one hand on the lid so it doesn’t slip. Pour slowly to prevent over-pouring. If you wish (or if your guest favors), you may use a strainer to avoid tea leaves to gather in the cup.

◇Serve tea in mugs or other cups. Because no one wants a gallon of tea, don’t make the cups too big.

◇In the course of serving tea, the host should pay attention to how much water is remaining in the cup and in the kettle. Normally, boiling water should be added after half of the cup has been consumed if the tea is made in a teacup; and thus the cup is kept filled to make the tea retain the same bouquet and remain pleasantly warm throughout the entire course of tea-drinking.

◇Sweets, snacks and other dishes may be served at tea time to supplement the fragrance of the tea and to allay one’s hunger.