This here thing, they call it Gongfu tea set. Sounds fancy, don’t it? But it’s just for making tea, you know. Like we always done, but with more little cups and such. This whole “Gongfu” thing, they say it means doin’ somethin’ real good, with lots of care. Like how I make my biscuits, gotta be just right.

Now, I seen these sets, some black, some white. They say some are from a place called Yixing. Don’t know where that is, must be far. They come with a little pot, and a whole bunch of tiny cups. More cups than you can shake a stick at! And they call one of them pots “Zi Sha.” Sounds like a funny name to me. This set, they say it’s the “Best Overall.” I guess that means it’s real good, like my prize-winning apple pie at the county fair.

They say this way of makin’ tea, this Gongfu way, it’s all about using lots of tea leaves, and just a little bit of water. And you do it over and over again, just a little bit at a time. They say it makes the tea taste better. I don’t know, I always just boiled my water and poured it over the leaves. Seemed to work just fine.

They say this “Gongfu” is the Chinese way. They use that special pot from, what was it, Yixing? They say it means doin’ somethin’ with “great skill and discipline.” Well, I reckon makin’ a good cup of tea does take some skill. You don’t want it too weak, or too strong. Gotta be just right, like Goldilocks’ porridge. They even got special words for it, like “Gongfu Tea Set” and “Gong Fu Cha Chinese Tea.” I suppose to sell more of that Best Tea Leaves Gongfu.

I read somewhere that there’s a whole guide to it, this Chinese way of makin’ tea. They call it “Gong Fu Cha – Tea With Great Skill.” Sounds important, don’t it? Like learnin’ about them fancy wines. I stick to my sweet tea, thank you very much.

This guide, they say it’s gonna tell you all about this Gong Fu Cha. It’s history, why it’s good for you, and all the tools you need. Tools for makin’ tea! Can you believe it? I just use my kettle and my old teapot.

Some of these tea sets, they say they’re good for takin’ with you. Like you can’t just make tea wherever you are. I guess if you’re one of them fancy folks, you need your special tea set, even if you’re just going to the office. Imagine that! Drinkin’ tea at the office from a Gongfu tea set, like you got nothin’ better to do.

Here’s how they say you do it. You put water in the pot, let the tea sit there for a little bit, 20-30 seconds they say. Then you pour it into another pot, they call it a pitcher. Then, you gotta smell the leaves. They say it tells you somethin’ about the tea. I reckon it would just smell like wet tea leaves to me.

• Put tea in the little pot.
• Pour hot water in.
• Wait a little bit.
• Pour it into another pot.
• Smell the leaves.

And get this, they got rules for how you sit and how you hold the cup! Men gotta hold their fists a certain way, women gotta put their hands together and bow. And you gotta take the cup with both hands. All this for a cup of tea! Back in my day, we just said “thank you” and took the cup. If someone was rude, you’d know by the way they treated a Gongfu tea set.

I guess this Gongfu tea set is a whole big thing. More than just makin’ tea, it seems like. It’s a whole ceremony, a whole way of doin’ things. Maybe it’s nice, to slow down and take your time with somethin’ simple like a cup of tea. But me, I’m happy with my old way. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it tastes just fine.

I suppose this Gong Fu Cha is alright for them that like it. If you want somethin’ fancy, that is good for you. But if I had to choose between a fancy Gongfu tea set or my old teapot, I know which one I’d pick. Some things, the old ways are just better. Like my grandma’s recipe for cornbread. Can’t nobody make it like she did. And that’s just the way it is.