Chinese traditional etiquette: the principle of serving tea

A significant Chinese custom is serving tea to visitors. Emperor of the Southern Dynasties Qi Shi Zhu, Lu Na, and others promoted using tea instead of wine. Tang Zhenliang, who developed the "ten virtues of tea" during the Tang Dynasty, claimed that drinking tea could not only help one stay well but also "express one's regard for others," "sublime one's personality," and "cultivate one's conducts." Many academics enjoyed drinking tea during the Tang and Song dynasties, and they frequently wrote about it in their works.

The fundamental rule of serving tea is to provide each visitor a hot cup of tea as soon as they enter the house. Prior to serving the tea, you must also inquire about the guest's preferences. According to an old saying, "wine should be served full while tea is offered half." People need to be careful to not fill the cup with eight points as directed. To avoid scorching, tea is often served at a low temperature. The tea matches the tea tray and has a uniform color. The person is holding the tea tray with their left hand on the bottom and their right hand on the edge.