This year's first

typhoon with a real presence has finally arrived,

and for those living by the coast,

it brings a refreshing respite amidst the raging storm.

On such an occasion,

enjoying tea while watching the rain is a fine choice.

Let's quietly sip our tea indoors,

and take a look at this tea-tasting guide.

A mix of seriousness and jest,

please take what you need.

Choose tea gatherings with “tea vibes”

When attending a tea gathering, opt for niche tea spaces that are not open to the public.

While others post photos of their afternoon tea in new Chinese-style teahouses on social media, your posts should focus on the details—such as delicate hands pouring tea, beautiful tea leaves, unique tasting cups—and pair them with a subtle caption. This instantly conveys a sense of tea appreciation.

The host owns a private tea courtyard and is well-known within the tea community; only invited guests can enter, or there may be entry fees and screening processes to ensure all participants share similar interests.

The tea courtyard is either tucked away from the bustling city or nestled deep in the mountains. The decor looks rustic yet brimming with detail.

It could be a small quadrangle courtyard with lotus flowers and grape arbors.

Or it might be a village house meticulously maintained, like the enchanting “Windless Courtyard.”

Tea utensils elevate the experience

Tea ware serves as a medium to showcase the host's aesthetic and grandeur.

Gaiwans, pots, sharing pitchers, and cups—from domestic artisans to foreign craftsmen, from renowned porcelain origins to antique pieces—the more eye-catching, the better to reflect the host's distinctive taste.

However, while it often requires financial investment to collect these items, never boast about their value, as it would ruin the “beauty quotient” and appear vulgar.

As a tea taster, if you wish to display your individuality, bring your own cup.

Another powerful tool to enhance tea vibes is the kettle.

If you're still using a generic water boiler, there's room for improvement… consider acquiring a couple of high-quality iron or silver kettles.

Tea trays should ideally be made of copper, or even silver. If they feature Japanese tea ware with family crests, it adds extra points.

Water and incense reveal expertise.

The water used for brewing tea is highly selective; bottled water like Nongfu Spring isn't enough. It's best to drive dozens of kilometers to the mountains every week to fetch spring water. You should also have a purification system at home, allowing the water to settle for two days before use.

Can one enjoy tea without appreciating incense? At the stage of playing with incense, one must be a master of tea. The knowledge of incense is just as profound as that of tea.

Sandalwood is no longer impressive; agarwood is a must. Burning incense that exudes a sense of extravagance naturally enhances the overall experience. If the incense box is made of precious wood, it further elevates the sophistication.

There's a hierarchy in tea appreciation

Which type of tea is best to start with among the six major categories?

Generally, when affluent ladies and gentlemen attend, rock Oolong and ancient tree Pu'er are excellent choices. Mentioning the origin, vintage, and age of the trees usually gives people a good idea.

It's ideal to have a tea rack at home filled with various vintages of Pu'er dating back to the start of reform and opening up, including teas from Taiwan and Japan. If you don't have a few cakes of raw Pu'er from the 1980s or 1990s, don't pretend to be knowledgeable in this area; switch to another hobby.

To subtly convey an air of old wealth, remain silent until asked, then casually reveal its history, surprising everyone.

However, with rock oolong and Pu'er, which are highly processed teas, one must be cautious. These teas should not be branded products available on the market but rather works of renowned masters or gifts from friends.

If purchased, they should be custom-made. You can tell your friends that the tea was specially crafted by the tea maker according to your taste and is unavailable in stores!

For White Tea enthusiasts, the emphasis is on naturalness, and the vintage is a given. The concept of wild-grown tea is popular. Old Shoumei and Gongmei won't cut it; aged white peony and ten-year-old silver needle are preferred.

In the scorching summer, a touch of ethereal flavor is needed, best complemented by Green Tea.

Famous teas like Pre-Qingming Longjing, Anji White Tea, Huangshan Maofeng, and Lu'an Guapian might be too mainstream and should be excluded. Opt for lesser-known teas, such as the recently enjoyed Xijian Chunxue. Its great taste and rarity make for an impressive display.

The above is provided for entertainment purposes. Drinking Tea should ultimately return us to inner peace.

Mr. Lin Yutang once said, “With a pot of tea, Chinese people find joy wherever they go.”

The sound of rain outside and the sound of tea being brewed inside blend together, and thoughts drift far away. The tranquility of life feels like a scene from a dream, so fitting and comfortable.

Whether it's a typhoon or a heavy downpour, as long as there's a pot of tea, it's enough.

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