RICH TRADITION OF TEA and ZISHA GIVES LIFE TO FRESH GENRE part I
TEA has been so much a part of Chinese civilisation for thousands of years that tea-drinking itself has become a culture. Happy or sad occasions regardless, Chinese tea is always served as a connotation of friendliness and respect. However, the custom of serving tea to ones elders as a sign of respect has gradually been forgotten by the younger generation. The Chinese tea-drinking culture is also no longer a popular practice.
The proliferation of Western-type sidewalk cafes points towards a desire to imbibe new ideologies. But tea-drinking is actually much more than just a culture. With modernization, it has developed from simply a cultural practice into an art of communication. The moment one settles down for a cup of Chinese tea, one becomes calm, relaxed and is prepared to communicate. It sets the stage for contemplation and enlightenment. Discovery of solutions to problems.
Chinese tea is also said to reflect one's personality and characteristics. Different tea leaves with its combination of colour, taste and fragrance is believed to project ones inner self.
Chinese tea can generally be grouped into one of the six varieties -Green Tea, Yellow Tea, Red Tea, White Tea, Qing Tea (Oolong Tea) and Black Tea. Categorisation is based on the level of fermentation and processing techniques. Tea leaves in a receptacle are normally passed around to guests before the brewing process. A tea's quality may be gauged from its colour and the texture of its leaves.
The art of Chinese tea is not just about drinking the brew but also the usage of proper utensils. Different teapotsdraw out the various teas' uniqueness and
flavor. Artistic teaware comes in different shapes and designs that can only add to your pleasure.
or thousands of years, the unique qualities of the extensive zisha, a clay deposit found only around Yixing, a small town in East China's Jiangsu Province about 170 kilometres west of Shanghai, have supported a thriving pottery art and industry.
Classified as purple clay, using different formulas and firing temperatures, zisha turns into several different colour variations such as black, brown, red, yellow and green. Though not as pale or fine as kaolin, it needs no glazing. And after firing, the product is solid and impermeable, yet porous enough to breathe.
The art of zisha pottery in Yixingoriginated during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). The range of traditional pottery produced from the clay base includes teapots , tea sets, stationary sets and flowerpots.
Theteapot , which usually comes in round and square version, is the most famous of the works. The round teapots are made in the shape of balls, a belly, drum and piece of garlic, while the square works are tapered or molded into a polygon, rhombus or trapezoid.
Generally marked by their simplicity and exquisite craftsmanship, the teapotsare also appreciated for their practicality. A Yixing pot enhances a brew of tea by bringing out its colour, smell and taste. The pot's body seems to absorb the tea and trap its fragrance.
The quality finish of the tea and its flavour can be attributed to the porous nature of the clay ?consisting mainly of quartz, kaolin, mica and a high volume of iron oxide.
The art of Chinese tea is not just about drinking the brew but also the usage of proper utensils. Different teapots draw out the various teas' uniqueness and
flavor. Artistic teaware comes in different shapes and designs that can only add to your pleasure.
www.zishateapot.co.uk,an online zisha teapots shop Offers handmade yixing teapots and accessories from Yixing, China.
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