Chinese Tea Ceremony or jing cha (敬茶) is the process of drinking and appreciating tea as a lifestyle, mirroring the combination of central ideas of Buddhism, Confucian, and Taoism philosophy. To date, tea continues to play a significant role in Chinese culture by taking part in meals, a sign of hospitality to guests, and for various celebrations such as a Chinese wedding tea ceremony, and during the Chinese New Year celebration.
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What is a Chinese Tea Ceremony?
Preparing tea may be simply seen as infusing dried tea leaves in hot water, but the Chinese viewed its preparation as crucial to the maximum experience of its consumption. Tea ceremonies and its particulars started to take shape at the same time it became central to Chinese way of life. During the Tang Dynasty, the Chinese took to liking porcelain to drink their tea from, earning a mention from Lu Yu in the classic resource material. Nowadays, China is also popularly and globally associated with porcelain.
While rituals have relaxed over time, the Yixing clay pot, named after the city where it can be sourced, has remained a staple. The pot’s capacity to absorb the tea’s flavors lends to a richer taste of the next serving.
Geography plays a part in tea-drinking too, since certain practices vary per region. In Mongolia, the tea is mixed with a splash of milk. If you pay a visit to the province of Zhejiang, expect a hot cup of green tea since they produce the variant. Aside from area, the process of tea-making could set it apart as well. The gong fu cha, for example, is practiced by experts and makes use of kung fu moves which gave the process its nickname. Fortunately, despite the myriad of categories and types to Chinese tea, what remains unchanged is the essence of tea-drinking and its symbolism to them.
Chinese Tea Ceremony For Welcoming Guest
To start, it is important not to serve the first steep as it acquires the initial toxins from the leaves. The second step will be to serve the elderlies first and the host or hostess should be the one pouring in the tea on each cup of the guests before their own cup.
After a person’s cup is filled, that person may knock his bent index and middle fingers on the table to express gratitude to the person who served the tea. This custom originated in the Qing Dynasty, about 300- 400 years ago.
If the host or hostess does not fill in the pots anymore, it is a sign that the tea ceremony is over and guests are being asked to leave.
Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
Chinese wedding tea ceremonies have become a tradition deeply rooted in their culture that is still being practiced in the present times. In a Chinese wedding tea ceremony the bride and groom pay their respects and show their gratitude towards their parents, new in-laws, and elders by serving them tea. In turn, their families will give their blessings to the newlyweds by giving them hong bao, or the red envelopes with money.
Traditionally, a Chinese wedding tea ceremony happens on a lucky engagement day, but in the modern-day, this usually happens on the wedding day between the ceremony and the reception. The location of the ceremony can be held at the family home of the bride or the groom but nowadays, it has become common to host the tea ceremony at a restaurant, hotel, or a beautiful outdoor park/pagoda. As such, during the Chinese wedding tea ceremony, the couple would serve tea to all family members and call them by their official title.
The Maid of Honor will hold the tray and teacups next to the bride and groom during the Chinese wedding tea ceremony and the teacups served to guests are never reused. Couples sometimes hire a Lucky Lady to assist with the wedding, much like a wedding organizer in other cultures. And before the couple starts serving the tea, the Lucky Lady may offer a few lucky sayings to the couple and the elders.
Bride ang Grooms Attire
There are many wedding qipaos/cheongsam styles. Typically, the bride wears a floor or ankle-length red cheongsam qipao dress featuring a mandarin collar, while a more traditional Chinese wedding dress one can wear is the qun kwa. The groom will typically wear a tux or suit to match or opt to wear a more traditional brocade jacket called changshan.
Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony Tradition
Tea used to be a part of the dowry given by the groom to the bride’s family. Acceptance by the latter meant their approval of the upcoming union. Near the wedding date, the bride and the groom usually host a separate tea ceremony for each of their families to show their appreciation before moving forward with their married lives. Traditionally, the groom’s family receives the ceremony in the morning, followed by the bride’s family in the afternoon.
Either bowing or kneeling on pillows, the couple serves the cup of tea to the elders with both of their hands saying the lines “Thank you for bringing us up. Now we are getting married. We owe it all to you.” The parents will usually drink a small portion of the tea and then give the couple a red envelope, which symbolizes good luck and blessing on their marriage, while refusal to drink would symbolize opposition to the wedding.
The groom is seated opposite the eldest male family member and the bride is seated in front of the eldest female member. The elders, for their part, give them red envelopes enclosed with either money or jewelry and bestow their blessings to the newlyweds. The colors red and gold dominate the ceremony, as it is believed to symbolize love, joy, fertility, and wealth. The Chinese characters that mean ‘double happiness’ could be conspicuously seen around the area too, along with candles, firecrackers, and white flowers.
Currently, couples have more leeway and authority when it comes to choosing the schedule and venue for the tea ceremony. Serving tea by the family members’ seniority is also not strictly imposed anymore. Still, the elders are ready to be of help should the couple seek guidance from them. The ceremony is a testament to the Chinese value for family and for the elderly.
Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony Accessories
Teapot Set for Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
It is expected that in the Chinese wedding tea ceremony all of the teacups are similar and of the proper size. Teapots are large enough to accommodate all family members who will be served a cup of tea.
Red Envelopes for Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
The red envelopes that contain cash are given to the newlyweds, it is said that the importance of the red envelope is not the amount of cash inside but the envelope itself. The red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity in Chinese, therefore, the envelope also shows that the giver wishes a good life for the new married couple.
Kneeling Pillows for Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
In the Chinese wedding tea ceremony, the act of kneeling in front of the parents, inlaws, and elderly family members symbolizes the gratitude of the couple to their family. The kneeling pillows are placed near the feet of the family members and allows comfort for the couple as they serve the tea.
Double Happiness Decorations for Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
The venue Chinese wedding tea ceremony will be decorated with lanterns and posters showing the symbol of double happiness. This is a traditional ornament, commonly used as a decoration symbol of marriage. While in feng shui, any decoration with double happiness should be positioned in the South West corner of the bedroom to enhance love and romance luck for the married couple.
Types of Tea Served in a Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
Lotus seed and red date tea
Lotus flowers are seen to be a sign of innocence and pure love, while red dates signify sweetness and happiness. As an option for wedding ceremonies, adding two lotus seeds and two red dates per cup to symbolize fertility for the bride. These used to be served at traditional Chinese weddings as a wish for the couple’s joyous marriage journey. Get Yours Here!
Green tea
Perhaps the most popular of all, green tea found a place in people’s essentials since it is still produced in many parts of China. The tea, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, is also offered to guests. It is advised not to be poured with boiling hot water. Get Yours Here!
Dark tea
Enjoyed since about the 16th century, dark tea’s color is produced by using old leaves and by employing a fermentation process. Get Yours Here!
White tea
White tea’s home is the province of Fujian. It is said to be derived from the aim of offering tea to guests despite the lack of resources, thus only producing water or ‘white tea.’ Others offer a different explanation, believing that the tea got its name from the ease of its drying process. Get Yours Here!
Oolong tea
Combine green and black tea, have it fermented, and you have oolong tea, which could be loosely translated as Black Dragon. It preserves both of the teas’ flavor and aroma and is often served to visiting guests. Get Yours Here!
Yellow tea
Yellow tea was formerly given to emperors way back the ancient times, for the color signified the power of the empire. Presently, it is still enjoyed by the Chinese people and has a taste similar to that of green tea. Get Yours Here!
Tea has continuously seeped its way into China’s—and the world’s—taste buds and history. Despite people adapting to modern times, tea-drinking and Chinese wedding tea ceremonies will always be integral to the country’s identity and culture. The practice gives China a more layered and richer tone, much like the steeped tea in the famed and celebrated Yixing clay pots.
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 is the process of drinking and appreciating tea as a lifestyle, mirroring the combination of central ideas of Buddhism, Confucian, and Taoism philosophy. To date, tea continues to play a significant role in Chinese culture by taking part in meals, a sign of hospitality to guests, and for various celebrations such as a Chinese wedding tea ceremony, and during the Chinese New Year celebration.){kind=link}