Along with coffee and tea - one of the most popular beverage in the world. But you can drink it in different ways. There are four main types of ceremonies: You can drink tea in Chinese and Japanese, in English and in Russian. Oriental ceremony of the best known tea in China and Japan, is something more than just eating a delicious drink. There tea ceremony - it's an act.

Chinese tea

Any tea ceremony requires a special attitude. In Chinese tea drink in pleasant company and a relaxed, harmonious atmosphere. After meal must be at least two, and preferably three hours. Also, before the ceremony, you should not drink alcohol, smoke or use perfume. Before the ceremony, all participants are invited to "get acquainted" with dry tea poured into a special box "cha-ho." You can then proceed to the ceremony Gong Fu Cha.

Tea ceremonies for use only the highest quality. It is semi-fermented oolong to be (oolong), also called "turquoise tea." Much attention is paid to the water, it must be clean and in an ideal - spring.

On board a special tea exhibit all the necessary utensils - teapot; kettle for heating water; special vessel from which the drink is poured into cups; strainer; tea pairs. Tea steam in Chinese - are two of the vessel, made in the same style. Tall and narrow cup designed for enjoying the aroma of tea, and low and wide bowl is needed to understand the color and taste of the drink.

The ceremony can last for a long time: quality oolong allowed to brew up to ten times. Participants enjoy the aroma and taste of the drink and forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and tuning in a harmonious way.

Tea ceremony in Japanese

In Japan, the tea ceremony is taken seriously, allocating it a special place and time. Japanese ceremony could be the night, at sunrise, morning, afternoon, evening and special. Special ceremonies are held on special occasions, such as after a holiday or in preparation for battle or ritual suicide.

Tea Houses in the tea gardens are arranged so that only one preparation for the ceremony set up a guest properly. Tea Gardens is small in size, and all of them subordinated to the idea of ​​harmony. In a garden is a stone-paved path to the teahouse. At the end of this track, which is called Rodz, is the well from which the participants of the ceremony take water for ablution. All the hardships, problems and concerns remain over the threshold of the house tyasitsu where people come to enjoy a cup of tea.

For the Japanese ceremony are required:

• Box for storing tea;
• The boiler or kettle to boil water;
• Total bowl;
• Individual bowls for the guests;
• Spoon sprinkling of tea and bamboo stick for stirring.

All the utensils can be very simple, even a little rough, without extra decorations, and in any case is not polished to a shine, and with traces of long-term use, with the story. This dishes should be, of course, perfectly clean.

The ceremony begins outside the house tyasitsu: first, visitors must pass through the garden on the path Rodz - it symbolizes their removal from everyday worries and prepare for the ceremony. Before you enter the tea house, visitors perform the ritual ablutions. Then you can take off your shoes and enter tyasitsu through a low and narrow passage. Such uncomfortable doorway made specifically: each guest, regardless of their position must bow down at the entrance.

In front of the house there is a special niche in which is placed a wise saying that defines the theme of the ceremony. As long as the boiler heats the water, guests and serves light gourmet snacks designed not to satiate, but only to extinguish hunger and reduce discomfort. The last serves light Japanese sweets for tea.

For the Japanese tea ceremony used powdered green tea. First, all drink from the same cup at a time: the owner gave the cup to the guest of honor, he takes a sip of tea, relishing it and wiped the edge of dishes towel, handed the cup to the next guest, which acts in the same way. Then, the owner prepares tea for each guest. If the procedure followed by the beverage respectful silence, during the tea itself it is already possible to speak. But do not talk about business and household chores: topic of conversation can be tea, beauty ikebana, or wisdom, placed in a niche opposite the entrance.

The ceremony ends when the owner leaves the house with an apology. After some time apart and guests. After they left, the owner cleaned in a teahouse to the ceremony only left traces in the memory of the participants.

English and Russian traditions

The English tea party - it is also a ritual, which, however, bears no resemblance to the eastern ceremony. Instead emphasized modest Japanese dishes needed a smart set, instead of green tea - well-brewed black instead of light snacks - muffins, scones with butter, cream and jam, biscuits. Tea in English drink, pouring the tea leaves into the warmed milk. The milk is usually added very little - less than one-third of the cup. During the tea party guests entertained small talk. The traditional time for English tea - five o'clock.

According to Russian tradition usually drink black tea in the afternoon. The drink is accompanied by a variety of sweets - rolls, pastries, different kinds of jam, candy, cakes, cheesecakes Cheesecake - a small fire of love , Gingerbread, drying, bagels. In some cases, in addition to sweets and small sandwiches served Sandwiches. Pros and cons -kanape, pies Patties. Hospitable dish Fresh rolls, butter. There is also a tea certainly fed milk or cream in a milk jug, and sliced ​​lemon and crushed sugar. In many countries tea with lemon and sugar is even called the "tea in Russian."

Maria Bykov

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