Yixing clay tea pots brew the best tea. Period. It is one of the oldest ways of brewing tea and certainly one of the most interesting, beautiful and practical. They are known worldwide for their special tea brewing qualities and beautiful designs.

The uniqueness of Yixing clay tea sets comes from the clay being very porous, instead of smooth and hard like a bone china tea sets or porcelain. This porousness lets the tea set actually soak up the tea, which means that after years of usage, it no longer is necessary to add tea to the water, because the flavor of the tea itself has been preserved within the pores of the pot. The pot and cups will naturally add flavor to the water. This is the what sets Yixing tea sets apart from the rest.

Aside from the main benefit of tea clay sets, there are still a few more. If you have a new clay tea set, you don't have to worry if it isn't "seasoned" yet. Because even if it isn't old yet, it will still add to the color, flavor and aroma of any tea you brew because the set is made of clay.

Yixing clay sets are the pefect example of craftsmanship and quality. They are usually ornate; decorated with beautiful depictions of ancient Chinese culture and tradition. These days there are numerous modern versions of clay tea sets, including ones that are painted or dyed different colors. If you don't think you would ever drink from a clay tea set, they still make beautiful decor and awesome conversation pieces.

Taking care of clay tea sets is pretty easy. But remember to never use soap or cleanser when cleaning your set! This is vital! Just remember that anything you put into the tea set, could potential be soaked into the clay; you don't want your tea to taste of soap. Aside from this, they aren't very much trouble. When your finished using your tea set, simply pour hot water over the clay and then rinse it again with water. No scrubbing is necessary. It is nice to dry the set with a tea towel if you have one, but if not, you can just let it air dry.

Another thing to note, is that you shouldn't brew more than one type of tea in your clay tea set. Most experts agree that using different flavors will cause the tea to eventually become unpredictable. This is because every tea you brew is soaked into the clay, so eventually, no matter what type of tea you brew, it will end up being some sort of a blend. Once you have mixed teas in your clay sets, it will be difficult to ever again get consistent flavor.

If you want to find your own Yixing tea set, all you have to do is look online. Or you could travel to China, but it isn't necessary anymore. You can't go wrong with a clay tea set, and you really can't get anything that is more traditional.

Learn more about traditional Chinese tea sets. Stop by Gavin Coleman's site where you can find out all about Chinese tea sets.

Posted under Tea

Tea drinking had long been existed in China. There are different types of Chinese tea; the four main types are black, green, oolong and white. Others add categories for red, compressed and scented teas. Moreover, some researchers recorded that there are actually more than 700 varieties of tea. Yet all of these varieties came from the same plant known as Camilla plant - the tea plant.

Chinese tea brewing is easy yet, it takes a lot of skill. Tea leaves are placed into containers particularly into teapots or cups. Hot water is then poured over the containers. Tea leaves are steeped for quite a few minutes. Teapots should be covered tightly and then hot water is poured over the covered teapots to keep hold of the heat. Then separate the leaves from the liquid and the tea liquid is ready for drink.

For Chinese tea drinkers brewing is made usually by preparing utensils such as cups and teapots. Many people preferred to prepare tea in cups using instant tea or tea bag which is a lot easier. On the other hand, some preferred to brew tea using loose leaf which produce more desirable flavor than tea bags. Chinese tea like black, green, oolong and white are prepared or served differently from each other.

For Black tea, it could be brewed in either of the two ways using a Chinese tea cup or a teapot. In a cup or teapot pour the boiling water slowly over the leaves. Cover and steeped for about 3 to five minutes. This is the recommended time to steep for a perfect flavor. Anything more than that makes the tea bitter.

On the other hand, Chinese favor the use of porcelain cups in brewing green tea. In line with Chinese tea culture, the use of porcelain cups would make better the quality of tea. In brewing, the boiled water is not poured directly over the tea leaves. Wait at most 3 minutes for it to be cooled then pour the water over the leaves. Cover and immerse it for about 2 to 3 minutes.

For Chinese tea like oolong, the utensils used for brewing comprise of kettles, teapots and cups which form a set known as "four treasures". During brewing, tea leaves are placed in a teapot. Boiling water is then poured over the leaves and the teapot is covered tightly. Hot water is poured over the covered teapot to retain the heat and then steeped for about 3 to 5 minutes. This is the best recommended time for most oolong tea types. After that the tea liquid is transferred into cups.

Now for white tea, pouring boiling water directly on the leaves could ruin the delicate flavor of tea. The water is boiled first and then let it sit for up to one minute. When the time is up, the water is then poured over the leaves. The recommended steeping time for most types of white tea is within 5 to 8 minutes.

Finally, brewing tea is all about the experience. Experiment and find the taste that you like best!

Learn more about Chinese Tea?, then visit the online store now to help you choose the best Chinese Tea for your health needs.

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Chinese tea ceremonies are very important in the lives of all Chinese, from the ancient times to the present. Its evolution reflects its influence in the growth and significance of tea in the Chinese culture. The art of drinking and serving is in itself a major subject in each ceremony. For several years, the ritual of preparing and serving tea was well loved by Chinese aristocracy, court officials, intellectuals and poets.

In ancient times, Chinese tea was primarily cultivated and used for medicinal purposes. It was the Monks who taught the deeper values of like respect for nature, humility, sobriety and calmness. These values were incorporated in the preparation and serving of tea. In fact, the spirit of Chinese tea ceremony is known as he, jing, yi, zhen which means, peace, quiet, enjoyment and truth. This is because Monks believed they could share more philosophical concepts through tea service.

The Chinese tea is the center of tea ceremonies in China, and not the other way around. It is all about how the tea tastes, smells, and how a particular tea tasted differently than in previous ceremonies. Chinese tea ceremony is a celebration of tea, being a major aspect in the Chinese culture. The ceremony is not very strict in the manner of service, because it is not about who serves the Chinese tea, rather it is simply all about tea. Although each step in the service is respected as it is meant to be a journey of sensory exploration and appreciation.

For a tea ceremony to be successful, six important things should be considered. The host or the server should be in a happy, peaceful and calm mood. The best kind of tea should be selected not only based on smell, taste and shape, but the tea should also have a beautiful name and background story. The water should also be of the purest and highest quality so that the best tea taste and aroma is achieved. In addition, the teawares should be functional and attract the guests as the tea is served. The tea ceremony should be held in a peaceful, clean and calm ambiance. Finally, the tea should be served gracefully.

Chinese teas used in the tea ceremonies are mostly grown in the highlands of Taiwan. They cultivate teas that are refined such as the oolong and red teas. Black tea, green tea and yellow or white tea are other varieties of Chinese teas that are also grown there.

A selection of the finest Chinese Tea is available online at The Big Teas website.

Posted under Tea