Gongfu Tea in South Fujian
There was ever a famous saying like this: Enjoy three of the best things in life—Gongfu tea, Nanyin music and water pipe. In the book Contribution of Caixiang to the Oolong Tea, the famous tea expert Professor Zhuang Wanfang ever described like this: “In memory of the contribution of Xiacang, the oolong tea was named after “Jun Mo” in Wuyi Mountain. Now the oolong tea is quite popular in south Fujian, Chaohou in Gudong and Taiwan Province…”
The quintessence of Xiamen's tea culture is the teaism (Chadao). Some people think the teaism originated in Japan but in fact, the ancient Chinese tea ceremony is well kept in Xiamen, which lays emphasis on decency of five components—tea leaves, water, tea set, the duration and degree of heating and the environment. Most of the Xiamen people love to drink Oolong tea. When the boiled water is poured into the teacup, the tea leaves are green in the center and red in the edge, and the tea liquid turns yellowish red with fragrant in smell and sweet in taste. Many people in Xiamen are also fond of the Tikuanyin Tea (Iron Goddess Tea), which is produced originally in Anxi County of Fujian Province. Due to the shortage of fresh water in Xiamen, people in the past used the well water to brew the tea, among which the spring water in the Mountain of Five Old Men of South Nanpu Temple and the “Sanbuzheng” well water in Gulang Island rank the best. But now most of the people choose the household filtered water.When drinking the oolong tea, one must choose the appropriate tea set carefully. The Xiamen people prefer to use the pottery tea set with cover so as to "preserve aroma" and "retain the taste”, “Menggong” teapot and “Ruoshen” Cup are their favorite. At the same time, the water for making tea should be boiled, but should not be over-boiled. For most Xiamen people’s point of view, only with appropriately boiled water can we prepare a cup of mellow tea. The duration and degree of heating should be strictly controlled, three to five minutes will be appropriate. It is universally acknowledge that the tea ceremony is particular about the environment. People in Xiamen like to decorate the sitting room with ornaments, vases, antiques, burn incenses and broad-cast music, making the tea ceremony become a lofty spiritual pursuance and a high-quality leisure way.
