Tea culture has existed for a long time. The origin of tea originates from East Asia and Southeast Asia, the tea tree was originally planted and exploited by Chinese people first. Then there are neighboring lands like Vietnam, people also gradually grow more tea. Therefore, Vietnamese tea culture is heavily influenced by Chinese tea culture. However, in Vietnamese tea art still has many unique and unique features that Chinese people do not have. The article below, we will give you the unique culture of tea of ​​both peoples.

Tea culture in China:

It can be divided into 3 main stages: tea cooked, tea stirred (using tea powder or tea), and soaked tea.

      + The period of using tea cake to cook: The people harvest the tea and then choose, cut and close it into cakes and then dry them. When used, it takes 3 steps to dry, crush and cook. Comes with making tea is the tools for tea and how to use tea.

     + The period of using powdered tea to stir: In the Song Dynasty, tea cakes were replaced by powdered tea. It was spread into tea, then stirred with boiling water to drink.

+ The period of using loose tea to soak: Used during the Ming Dynasty. Make tea buds on top, when tea buds sink, drink. Since then, the processing stages of tea are only stars, burnt, dried … and shaped fiber.

    Comes with making tea is the tools used to enjoy tea. For example, during the Ming Dynasty, pottery and porcelain tea, it was thought that meekness was the principle of art: a cup of popular tea was white enamel. Nghi Hung soil kettle is black and purple, round, with mouth, lid and handles are particularly popular. Nghi Hung soil kettle has the following characteristics: (1) boiling water without harming the color, flavor and taste of tea; (2) tea flavor is not metamorphosed; (3) high temperature resistance, does not crack into boiling water; (4) special use, do not put tea into tea; (5) the more you use the the more slick; (6) less heat transfer, no burns on hands; (7) has many colors, want to choose which color you want. In addition, it is necessary to talk about an art form associated with drinking tea, which is singing. In the upper nobility, each person drinks a cup separately. The cup has a lid on it, there is a plate listed below, called “cup of rice”. When the customer does not want to drink anymore, they turns up the lid, the waiter will understand the idea no more.

While enjoying tea, there are also rules for tea, how to pour tea, … Chinese people drink tea to enjoy, to relax, to sorrow with their friends on the chess board. Drinking tea is to be in harmony with nature, to express the love and talk about the world …

       China has many famous teas such as Green Tea, Red Tea, O-Long, Flower Tea, Pressed Tea … Of which the most famous is Longjing Green Tea is the most famous. In the popular world, tea is mixed in a large vase, usually octagonal, in the middle of the table. Next to it is a large gourmet pot and five small cups soaked in hot water. If you want to drink, pour tea and drink as much as you want. Today, for Chinese people, tea is still a favorite drink. But tea is only evaluated according to the taste but in terms of rituals, there is no such elegance as in the past.

Tea culture in Vietnam

Vietnamese tea is influenced by Chinese. However, drinking fresh tea, bud tea is a unique drink of Vietnamese people, but has not been recorded or popular in the world.

Tea is a drink of agricultural residents who like a stable and calm life. So in the art of making tea and enjoying the tea of ​​Vietnamese people is not too fussy but not too simple, not too ritual but also not too popular. It is a perfect combination of medium to tea making and tea drinking.

The way of making tea of ​​Vietnamese people fully reflects the culture through the stages of choosing tea, processing tea, boiling water, making tea, pouring tea and enjoying the tea flavor. Choosing tea is the first important step, most people in Vietnam prefer fresh tea, bud tea, green tea. Most Vietnamese people mainly use fresh tea. Freshly bought tea is washed, crumpled for leaf flaps, broken stalks are removed. Boil the water for tea, boil it again, then incubate for about 15 minutes, soak it for use. Drinking fresh tea also shows the community of Vietnamese village culture.

In addition to drinking fresh tea, bud tea, green tea, people still take old tea leaves to dry, crush them to drink gradually (called dry tea). The tea is dry and the tea buds are red. Especially in famous tea-growing areas such as Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho, there are “rustic tea”, “tea hooked” … Vietnamese people have known to marinate tea with lotus, jasmine, flower, chrysanthemum and flowers. lan … Especially lotus tea. Marinated tea has very special flavors.

Vietnamese tea drinking art has many unique characteristics different from that of Chinese people. Want a cup of good tea, the first thing to find a source of pure natural water. The best tea making water is the dewdrops that are soon deposited on the lotus leaf, or the rain water from the areca leaves. The picky person blends well water with rainwater, called yin-yang water. The water must be boiled with earthen pot on a coal-fired stove.

Coal is used to boil water because it does not stink like dry wood, or oils. Boil just enough, not boil too much or not boil enough. Then put a moderate amount of tea, pour boiling water to rinse the tea, pour water into it and use. It is an all-encompassing journey that every stage, every beat must reach the artistic leg, the final goal: a cup of delicious tea is truly full. It is no coincidence that of all the drinks of this human realm, tea is considered the most sophisticated art. The “five pants” section is your tea. It is not easy to pour tea into a cup. The selection of tea, tea making, tea invite is a cultural behavior that expresses the sophistication and hospitality of Vietnamese people. Even from the way of lifting glasses, the way to invite guests, the way of drinking shows the culture.

In tea art, Vietnamese people are not too sophisticated but not simple. Vietnamese people drink tea with the wish to harmonize with nature, expressing equal and humble attitude. Vietnamese people do not require a separate space to enjoy tea and do not necessarily have a cake when using tea, Vietnamese people mainly focus on people who drink together and taste the tea.