“Wine must be full, Tea only shallow,” is a rule of Etiquette for serving wine and tea. But why do we have this custom of filling the wine glass to the brim and pouring tea less full?

“Wine must be full” means that at banquets, the host pours wine until it overflows to show sincere hospitality. In many places, there is even a custom of drinking the first three cups completely full and finishing them, not leaving until one is tipsy.

Wine, being a strong and stimulating beverage, helps to create a festive atmosphere at banquets—there's no banquet without wine. Pouring wine to the brim is reasonable and acceptable as long as it is consumed in moderation.

When drinking enthusiastically, one should still maintain control, drink according to one's limits, and avoid forcing others or oneself to drink more than they can handle.

There are three principles summarized in the etiquette of drinking: “respect,” “joy,” and “moderation.” These mean showing sufficient respect during drinking, ensuring both parties are happy, and knowing when to stop. Both full glasses and encouraging others to drink should adhere to these principles.

“Tea should be shallow” is in contrast to “wine must be full.”

In fact, “shallow” and “full” are relative terms. For example, in folk sayings, there is the notion of “filling the tea cup seven-tenths full” or “pouring tea only seven-tenths full, leaving the remaining third as a gesture of goodwill.” This is because ancient people believed that filling a tea cup too full was disrespectful to guests, akin to forcing them to drink like cattle, which could be considered an insult.

Reasonably speaking, the etiquette of “tea should be shallow” may consider two situations: pouring too little tea might not demonstrate enough sincerity from the host; but if it is too full, it can easily spill over, making it inconvenient for the guest to drink and causing embarrassment for the host, which would be the greatest disrespect.

According to traditional Chinese views of the Mean, the middle path is the correct one, and the moderate approach is the best. Therefore, people use the standard of seven-tenths full for pouring tea, which is neither too much nor too little.

When serving more than one visitor, the tea served should be uniformly colored, and the tray should be held with the left hand supporting the bottom and the right hand on the edge. If there are tea snacks, they should be placed in front of the guest to the right, with the teacup to the side of the snacks.

When serving tea, it should be presented with the right hand from the right side of the guest, accompanied by a smile and eye contact. Guests should also respond politely by accepting the tea with both hands and nodding their thanks.

When savoring tea, small sips are recommended, experiencing bitterness followed by sweetness and then the lingering aftertaste, which is best appreciated rather than described. Additionally, it is appropriate to compliment the host on the quality of the tea.

The leaves in the Teapot can be steeped 3 to 4 times. When a guest finishes their tea, the host can refill their cup. The tea can be cleared away only after the guests have departed.

Serving a modest amount of tea suits a slower pace, suggesting longevity and leisure, while Tea culture emphasizes frugality, beauty, harmony, and respect.

This complements the principles of respect, joy, and moderation in the etiquette of drinking wine. The custom of filling tea cups seven-tenths full reflects the distinct feature of Chinese Tea culture, which values elegance and restraint.

In summary, serving guests with wine and tea, one full and one shallow, though different in form, both embody the principle of respecting others through courtesy and acting according to practical considerations in social interactions.

Wine must be full, tea only shallow. The fullness and shallowness represent the joys and sorrows of life.