What is Kung fu Tea?
Also known as CHA TAO, or the way of tea, kung fu tea making is an art that is enjoyed by millions of people of all walks and levels of ability. I was introduced to this art through my Taoist studies. Ever since that fateful day, I have been helpless to resist the many enchanting qualities and truly blissful experience that is tea.
There are as many styles of kung fu tea as there are places in China, so what I refer to is the root of the practices. In general, there are several unique accessories required in order to brew the tea properly. First, and foremost is the small but mighty kung fu tea pot. These are made of special clays from only a select few deposits in China namely yixing and chazhou. Next and also for brewing tea, is the qaiwan cup. This little gem allows for greater flexibility when brewing and is very affordable. Also there are pitchers to hold your tea and many smaller utensils required like a scoop to get the tea into the pot. We provide basic instruction in kung fu tea preparation as well as how to utilize the teas medicinally and as an aid to your personal cultivation practice. We recommend going out and buying a gaiwan to get started, it will only cost you about 5-15 bucks for a basic white one and coupled with a pitcher you are looking at a $20 investment. Then you are ready for a full on addiction...a healthy one. This is perhaps the nicest quality of tea, that is is non-addicting, aids in relaxation and stimulation...the best of both worlds... The tradition of kung fu (gongfu) goes back many, many centuries and its history is rich with stories of martial arts masters, monks, nuns, kings, gods and goddesses, drunks and the occasional monkey. As with all things Chinese, it is impossible to provide a perfect picture of kung fu due to the depth of traditions. In a nutshell it means skills attained by hard work and dedicated practice under the supervision of a master. While the term kung fu applies to any art: archery, fighting, calligraphy, etc., we of course are referring to kung fu tea preparation. We consider tea an extension of our taoist practices, a way to live our art. To become a true gong fu master, one must undergo an apprenticeship with a recognized teacher. In China, there are university settings for this, as well as private learning arrangements in which the scholarship and the practice is rigorous and thorough. A student of tea must learn of not only how to make tea, but how to grow, process, and all manners of storage and proper care of tea from farm to finish. |
Tea Offerings
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Kung fu Classes Tea Ceremonies Tea Store
Very high quality, rare tea available for purchase
See List & Descriptions What is Kungfu?
The tradition & rich history of the Cha Tao: Way of Tea
Read about Kungfu Tea |
