Tea culture refers to all matters related to drinking tea, both ancient and modern. However, contemporary discussions on tea culture within the context of drinking often emphasize the elaborate brewing methods of Gongfu tea, while the simpler and more accessible Convenience tea seems rarely mentioned. Therefore, I believe that although the drinking methods and purposes of the two are quite different, discussing tea culture cannot overlook Convenience tea. Below is an introduction to the differences between Convenience tea and Gongfu tea.

Currently, Gongfu tea is extremely popular in the Chaoshan region and has also spread to areas like Fengshun, Dabu, and Meixian. However, the level of "effort" or elaboration involved varies, ranging from complex to simple. In terms of auxiliary materials and utensils: spring water versus tap water; fine charcoal versus electricity, gas, or coal; pottery or copper kettles versus aluminum kettles; tin tea storage cans versus iron cans; purple clay teapots versus lidded porcelain cups—old and new methods are intermixed. This is undoubtedly influenced by contemporary technological development and production. Regarding the brewing method itself, the complexity of the operation is not fixed to one person; even the same individual may sometimes perform elaborate steps and sometimes simpler ones depending on the situation. Apart from personal habits, this is likely related to the fast pace of modern life.

It is not hard to imagine that, catalyzed by current technological development and the accelerating pace of life, the peak period of Gongfu tea consumption in Chaoshan will also be a period of transformation for Gongfu tea itself. While Convenience tea is more in sync with a fast-paced rhythm, it will also be inspired by scientific progress and the demand for improved living standards. It may incorporate substances beneficial to human health into the tea, evolving as a thirst-quenching and health-promoting beverage through innovation.

Convenience tea, broadly speaking, encompasses any tea drinking that does not emphasize the color, aroma, taste, elaborate brewing methods, or specific tea utensils associated with Gongfu tea. In a narrower sense, it refers to the large pots or mugs of ordinary tea brewed at field edges, construction sites, or roadside stalls—this is Convenience tea. Even in many households today, the large pots of light tea prepared in summer for children to drink at any time to quench their thirst also fall into this category.