Well, howdy there! Today, we’re gonna yak about somethin’ called a “gong fu tea set.” Don’t you go frettin’ if you ain’t never heard of it. I’m here to tell ya all about it, the best way I know how.

First off, what in tarnation is a gong fu tea set, anyhow? It ain’t your grandma’s chipped ol’ teapot, that’s for sure. It’s a whole shebang of little cups and pots and whatnots, all used for makin’ tea the right way. And by “right” way, I mean the fancy way, the way them high-falutin’ folks do it.

Now, I seen some pictures of these sets, and lemme tell ya, they can be right purdy. Some are plain and simple, just plain ol’ white or somethin’, but others… well, they’re all dolled up with fancy paintin’s and such. Flowers, birds, dragons… you name it. Makes you feel a bit like royalty just lookin’ at ’em. You can find all sorts, simple ones and them real fancy ones, too. Just gotta know where to look, I reckon.

So, what all comes in this here gong fu tea set, you ask? Well, there’s a bunch of stuff. Lemme see if I can remember it all…

• First, there’s the gaiwan. That’s the main pot, the one you brew the tea in. It’s usually got a lid and a saucer, makes it look kinda like a fancy bowl.
• Then, you got these little bitty cups, smaller than your thumb, sometimes. They call ’em tea cups, but they ain’t like the ones you drink your coffee outta, no sir. These are for sippin’ that good tea, slow and steady.
• And then there’s a pitcher, sometimes called a fairness cup. That’s for pourin’ the tea into so’s everyone gets the same strength brew. No cheatin’ and gettin’ the weak stuff, see? Fair and square!
• Oh, and you can’t forget the tea strainer. Keeps all them pesky leaves outta your cup. Nothin’ worse than gettin’ a mouthful of soggy leaves, I tell ya.
• Some sets come with a tea tray too. Catches all the spills, keeps your table from gettin’ all wet and sticky. And it just looks fancy, don’t it?
• And last but not least, you got your tea tools. Little pokey things for movin’ the leaves around, and maybe a little scoop for measurin’ your tea. Not that I ever measure my tea, mind you. I just eyeball it. Always have, always will. These tools make it easier to handle them tiny tea leaves.

Now, makin’ tea with a gong fu set ain’t like dunkin’ a tea bag in a mug. Oh no, it’s a whole process. First, you gotta warm up all the cups and the pot. Then, you put in your tea leaves, not too much, not too little. Then you pour in the hot water, but not just any ol’ hot water. It’s gotta be just the right temperature, dependin’ on the kind of tea you’re usin’.

Then you let it steep for a bit, just a few seconds sometimes. And then you pour it into the pitcher, and then into the cups. And then you sip it, slow and easy. And then you do it all over again, and again, and again. ‘Cause them tea leaves, they got more flavor in ’em than you think. You can get a bunch of brews outta one little pinch of leaves, if you do it right.

Why would anyone go through all that trouble just for a cup of tea? Well, I reckon it’s more than just a cup of tea. It’s a way to slow down, to appreciate the little things. It’s a way to connect with somethin’ bigger than yourself, somethin’… I dunno… somethin’ special. And it is a good way to show off, you know, if you like showing off them fancy things.

There are lots of places you can find these sets, but I heard tell of places where they got a good selection and good prices. Just gotta be careful, don’t wanna get ripped off by them city slickers. And you can find used ones too, if you’re lucky. Sometimes, them old sets are the best kind.

So, there ya have it. That’s the lowdown on gong fu tea sets, as best as I can explain it. Maybe it sounds complicated, maybe it sounds silly. But I tell ya what, it’s worth a try. You might just find yourself enjoyin’ that slow, fancy way of makin’ tea. And if you don’t, well, at least you learned somethin’ new today.

Tags: [gong fu tea, tea set, tea ceremony, Chinese tea, tea cups, gaiwan, tea brewing, tea culture, tea accessories, tea ware]