Tea art, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, contains profound cultural heritage and unique aesthetic value. It is not only the art of brewing tea, but also an art and philosophy of life, reflecting the pursuit of harmony, tranquility, and nature in Chinese culture.
The core of tea art lies in the selection and brewing of tea. High quality tea is the soul of tea art. Different tea varieties, such as green tea, black tea, oolong tea, Pu’er tea, etc., each have their own unique flavor and brewing requirements. Green tea is fresh and refreshing, black tea is mellow and sweet, oolong tea has a rich aroma, and Pu’er tea has a rich and mellow aged aroma. When choosing tea, we need to judge its quality based on factors such as the origin, year, and storage conditions of the tea. High quality tea has a bright green color, a pure aroma, a rich taste, and high nutritional value.
Brewing technology is an important part of tea art. The correct brewing method can maximize the flavor of tea, making the tea soup bright and fragrant. When brewing, we need to grasp factors such as water temperature, tea amount, and brewing time, which directly affect the taste and quality of the tea soup. Water temperature has a significant impact on the taste and aroma of tea soup. Green tea is suitable for brewing at a lower water temperature (about 80 ℃) to maintain its fresh taste; Black tea and oolong tea are suitable for brewing at high water temperatures (about 90-100 ℃) to fully stimulate their aroma and taste; Pu’er tea is suitable for brewing with boiling water to release its aged aroma and rich taste. The amount of tea added can also affect the concentration and taste of the tea soup. Excessive tea leaves can make the tea soup too thick, affecting the taste; Too little tea will make the tea soup too weak, making it difficult to fully experience the flavor of tea. The control of tea brewing time is also crucial. A short brewing time can make the tea soup lack aroma and flavor, while a long brewing time can make the tea soup bitter. Therefore, we need to control the brewing time based on the type of tea and personal taste.
As a carrier of tea art, the selection and use of tea utensils are also important components of tea art. There are various types of tea utensils, including teapots, teacups, saucers, teaspoons, teacups, etc. Each type of tea set has its unique function and aesthetic value. When choosing tea sets, we not only need to consider their aesthetics, but also their practicality and compatibility with the type of tea being brewed. For example, purple clay teapots are suitable for brewing oolong tea and Pu’er tea due to their good breathability and insulation properties; Glass tea sets, on the other hand, are suitable for brewing green tea and floral tea due to their high transparency.
During the brewing process, the use of tea utensils also emphasizes art. For example, when using a purple clay teapot to brew tea, we can control the speed and direction of the water flow by adjusting the size and angle of the teapot mouth, thereby affecting the taste of the tea soup. In addition, the placement and decoration of tea utensils are also a part of tea art, as they can add elegance and atmosphere to the tea table.
The practice of tea art also includes the performance of tea ceremony and the organization of tea parties. Tea ceremony performance is an advanced form of tea art, which showcases the essence and beauty of tea art through a series of standardized movements and rituals. The tea ceremony performance not only requires standardized and smooth movements, but also emphasizes inner cultivation and emotional expression. At tea parties, people can taste tea, communicate, and share the details of life, experiencing the charm and cultural heritage of tea art. The hosting of tea parties is also an important way of tea socializing, which promotes communication and friendship between people.