A Guide to Chinese Tea Drinking Etiquette
The Chinese tea culture is an integral part of life in China, so getting the etiquette right when experiencing the tea is essential. Follow our guide to find out how it’s done.
Seating Etiquette
Following the rules of a traditional Chinese teahouse, the guests are seated in order of importance from the left-hand side of the host. Typically, this means that older guests and teachers are seated first. If there is little age difference between these guests, women are prioritised, and given the higher ranking seats. It is considered inappropriate to seat yourself opposite the host; the only instance in which this is allowed is if there are no other seats, in which case, this space can only be taken by a child.
Serve Others Before Yourself
While this also applies to food when dining out, this rule is particularly important to the tea service. If you want to enjoy another cup of tea, it is crucial that you never serve yourself a new cup before you have offered it to the other guests first. It is also seen as rude to interrupt a conversation to ask a fellow guest if they require more tea; in this instance, just pour them a cup.
Finger Kowtow
Otherwise known as finger tapping, this ritual is performed as a way to silently give thanks to the tea server. In East Asian culture, the kowtow is traditionally a way of showing respect to one’s elders in the form of kneeling and bowing so low that the head touches the ground. This was particularly employed for showing respect to the Emperor and for religious or cultural worship. The origins of the finger kowtow are said to have begun in the Qing dynasty, when the Qianlong Emperor travelled in disguise, with his servants under the instruction to keep his identity hidden. On a visit to a teahouse, the Emperor poured a cup for his servant, who wished to thank the Emperor with a kowtow, but couldn’t as this would reveal his identity. Instead, he bent his fingers and knocked the table to express his respect, reinacting the bow with his fingers.
In the modern day, this custom is still common in southern Chinese cultures, however it is only used in other parts of China when the person giving thanks is talking to someone else, or cannot say “thank you” when their cup gets filled. In formal tea ceremonies, it is more appropriate to nod the head.
Drinking the Tea
The tea tends to be served in a small cup, as this allows the tea to cool faster for you to drink it. Of course, it will still be very hot when first served, so it is important to wait a few moments before taking a sip, so as to not burn your tongue. Take a small sip to start to test that it is not too hot. Once you have finished the first cup, your cup will promptly be refilled, however, there is no pressure to drink this next cup immediately. Relaxing and appreciating the tea is a key part of the experience.
Things to Avoid
Firstly, no matter the size of the cup, do not gulp down the tea in one go. This is the time to savour the flavours presented to you by the leaves, and can offer a chance to reflect and nourish the mind. Another big no in the tea service etiquette is spitting out the tea. Even if you do not enjoy the taste, this is considered incredibly impolite, especially if done in front of the tea server. Finally, smoking tends to be prohibited when drinking tea as this is seen as disrespectful. If you are in need of a smoke it is customary to experience several steeps before you may ask your host their views on you stepping outside.
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