How to hold a Chinese tea cup the right way

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Traditional Chinese tea cups, also known as 'gongfu tea cups', are smaller than Western cups and mugs, and they're also typically handle-free. As a result, for the beginning Chinese tea drinker, it's only natural to wonder how to hold them correctly. Using the a gongfu tea cup the right way doesn't only allow for more comfort, but also makes sure you don't burn your fingers.This post, we will discuss the use of tea cups, gaiwans and aroma cups in more detail.
The Chinese tea cup
Chinese tea cups are usually round or squared shaped and may be made from different materials and glazes and in various colours. Gongfu tea cups are usually about 35-60 ml, though larger cups of up to 200 ml are also sometimes used. There small size match the tea brewing utensils used in China, which usually have a capacity of around 100-300ml.
How hold a Chinese tea cup
Holding a Chinese cup can be tricky, especially if you have big hands or are used to drinking from mugs or cups with a handle. Here’s a guide to holding Chinese tea cups properly:
- Pinch the cup just under the rim with your index finger and thumb. You should be able to hold the cup naturally without too much tension.
- Place your middle finger under the cup's bottom to have better control over your cup.
- Gently guide the cup to your mouth. Use your middle finger to stabilise the cup and keep it balanced as you raise it to your lips.
How to avoid burning your hands & enjoy tea
First, it's also important not to overfill your cup with tea all the way up to the rim. Chinese tea is usually steeped very hot, and if the heat is distributed to the right, it will make it impossible to hold. In the worse case, you may burn your fingers and spill tea.
Secondly, if the cup is too hot, it usually means the tea is too hot. When drinking tea that's too hot, you may risk burning your tongue, and you won't be able to fully enjoy the aroma and flavour.
Instead, wait for the tea to cool off a bit before drinking. In fact, one of the main benefits of using small tea cups is for the tea to cool down faster. Generally, with small cups, waiting for about 10-15 seconds is enough for the tea to cool to a pleasant temperature.
If cool down speed is important for you, we recommend buying smaller, flatter cups. Flat cups have a larger surface area, allowing heat to escape faster through the air.
Tips for holding tea cups in formal settings
If you're on a business trip in China or attend any formal tea ceremony, we recommend to learn some basic tea etiquette.
- The the tea is served, pickup the cup with your right hand. If needed, you can use your left hand to support the bottom of the cup for balance.
- Then, switch the cup to your left hand for drinking. Hold the cup with your left thumb and index finger, and use the middle finger to maintain stability.
- After a sip, place your cup on the tea table with your left hand.
Don'ts
Now that we've explained how to hold a Chinese tea cup, here's a list of things you should avoid:
- Avoid grasping the cup with your whole hand and fingers. As said before, the tea might still be hot, and the chances of burning are high. Plus, it wouldn't be considered elegant during formal occasions.
- Don't pinch your cup with your finger on the bottom or middle of its body. You won't be able to have a firm control over the cup.
- You shouldn't hold the cup with both hands, like a cereal bowl. Many mug lovers hold mugs and cups with both hands, especially in winter, to warm their hands. Despite this, Chinese tea cups are too small, so using both hands would be unnecessary and uncomfortable.
- If you're the one preparing the tea, avoid overfilling the cup. It won't help you hold it well.
Using a Gaiwan as a cup
Besides small gongfu tea cups, sometimes in China, we use gaiwans for drinking in casual settings. The gaiwan is a versatile piece of Chinese teaware that can be used as a tea brewing utensil and as a cup. This aspect makes it an essential item for every tea lover.
This post, we will skip the discussion on how to brew tea with a gaiwan, but focus on how you may drink from it. In fact, using a gaiwan to drink tea is an entirely different experience compared to using small cups. Here are some tips if you want to use it as a cup:
- Hold the saucer instead of the cup itself. Hold it in the palm of your right hand, and use your thumb to steady the cup.
- Using your left hand, allow a small opening between the lid and the cup, and drink from it while you hold the knob.
Keeping the lid on the cup will prevent the steam from getting on your face and hold back the leaves while you sip the tea.
What are aroma cups?
Besides gongfu tea cups and gaiwans, there's another type of tea cups you may see in traditional Chinese tea ceremonies: the aroma cup.
Like the name suggests, aroma cups are designed to enhance tea's volatile aromas. Even if we taste tea through the mouth, it's through the nose that we perceive the complex aroma.
With its long and narrow shape, the aroma cup helps to feel every scent of the brewed tea. This cup is used with tea brewed in the gongfu style. You aren’t supposed to drink from it; it is only used to smell the delicate aromas of the tea. Aroma cups are usually sold and used in pairs with traditional Chinese teacups. Here's how to use and hold aroma tea cups:
- After the brewed tea is ready, pour the tea from the Gongdao bei (fairness pitcher) into the aroma cup.
- Cover it with a regular Chinese tea cup.
- Hold the aroma cup tightly with your thumb and the tasting cup with your index finger, then flip them over quickly. With this quick movement, the vapour full of scents is trapped in the emptied aroma cup while the tea transferred into the teacup.
- Hold the aroma cup and bring it to your nose to smell the aroma. You may want to roll back and forth the aroma cup between the hands when smelling its fragrance. At last, sip the tea from the regular tea cup.
Traditional Chinese cups help to enhance the enjoyment of complex tea aroma. Through practice, you will learn to hold these cups comfortably without risking burning your fingers or spilling the tea. With time, you'll notice that small cups are the best way to enjoy tea.