The art of Gong Fu Cha, or Chinese tea service, is elegant, fun, and engaging. Though it is often seen as intimidating, it is actually quite easy once you have the skills.
Our flagship course, Introduction to Gong Fu Cha provides clear and thorough instruction in the use of the Gaiwan, the lidded bowl which is one of the most basic tea steeping tools, an overview of the Chinese and English names of the components of a tea set and their function, and covers three foundational steeping modalities to equip you to skillfully serve any kind of loose-leaf tea.
Whether you're a beginner or have been pouring tea for years, this class can help you to perfect your technique to serve Chinese tea with confidence and competence.
For this class we recommend that you have:
- A Gaiwan (lidded bowl or cup for steeping Chinese tea)
- Gong Dao Bei (justice cup, an open vessel with a spout)
- a Tea Cup
- Loose leaf teas: a green tea, an oolong or red tea, and a pressed and/or aged tea
- A Kettle or some other method of boiling and pouring water