The Art and Tradition of Chaozhou Gongfu Tea

Chaozhou Gongfu tea, also known as Chaozhou Gongfu Cha (潮州工夫茶), is a traditional tea brewing method that originated in the Chaozhou region of Guangdong province, China. Known for its precise techniques, the Chaozhou Gongfu tea ceremony emphasizes not only the flavor of the tea but also the aesthetic presentation and sensory experience.

Essential Tools of Chaozhou Gongfu Tea Ceremony

Sha Diao Kettle (砂铫)

The Sha Diao, or clay kettle, is a distinctive element of Chaozhou tea-making. This kettle, often made of unglazed clay, has a porous quality that enhances the water’s mineral composition. The clay not only retains heat well but also brings out the rich flavors of the tea leaves. The kettle is typically heated over a charcoal stove, for maintaining boiling water.

Chaozhou Red Clay Sha Diao Boiler Teapot

Chaozhou Red Clay Stove (红泥炉)

Heating water over Chaozhou Red Clay Stove charcoal stove is central to Chaozhou Gongfu tea. The charcoal stove, traditionally fueled by charcoal or wood, provides a steady, low flame ideal for heating the Sha Diao kettle. Watching the gradual heating process is also a calming part of the tea ritual.

Chaozhou Red Clay Stove

Yixing Teapot (宜兴壶)

Chaozhou Gongfu tea often uses small Yixing teapots crafted from Yixing clay, renowned for its heat-retention properties. These teapots are typically smaller than standard ones, with a capacity that matches the high leaf-to-water ratio preferred in Gongfu tea. Yixing clay teapots “remember” the tea they’ve brewed, meaning they absorb the flavors and aromas of the tea over time, which gradually enriches the tea experience.

Pinming Tea Cups (品茗杯)

Three pin ming cups are the standard matches to Chao Zhou Gongfu tea.
Even when there are more than three persons, only three pin ming cups, others need to wait for next turn/round.
The three cups are placed together, to form the character pin 品, means “taste”.
This character is also said to symbolize in abbreviated form the word Pin De品德.
That means “virtuous character” or “morality”.

Bamboo Shaped Bone China Tea Cup

Chaozhou Red Clay Tea Boat (茶船）

The Chaozhou tea boat serves as both a practical tool and an aesthetic element in the Chaozhou Gongfu tea ceremony. Known also as a tea tray or dried-brew tea table, this container or tray is crafted to hold the teapot or gaiwan during each step of the tea-making process. It is to catch the excess water and tea that overflow during rinsing, warming, and brewing, ensuring the workspace remains neat and ordered.

Chaozhou Red Clay Tea Boat

Chaozhou Gongfu tea is much more than a brewing method; it’s a celebration of skill, patience, and tradition. Each element contributes to a meditative experience, emphasizing a harmonious blend of taste, aesthetics, and the virtues embodied in tea culture.