Author: Xu Jiahua(Senior Tea Taster)
A cup of Gongfu tea begins the daily life of the people of Chaozhou. As a representative of traditional Chinese tea art, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. With its exquisite techniques and profound cultural heritage, it has become a gem of Eastern tea culture that has reached the world.
The mellow flavor of Chaozhou Gongfu tea originates from Phoenix Dancong tea, which is the key to its unique charm.
Getting to the Root of the Matter: Clarifying Concepts and Understanding Origins.
Chaozhou is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, while Chaoshan is a regional cultural concept. Chaozhou Gongfu tea is the core representative of Chaoshan Gongfu tea, and the two share a common lineage in terms of technique and culture.
"Gongfu tea" is not the same as "Kungfu tea." Qing Dynasty documents and Chaozhou traditions use the character "Gong," reflecting a steadfast adherence to the origins of traditional tea art.
Chaozhou Gongfu tea uses oolong tea as its raw material, with Phoenix Dancong as its core tea variety. Its unique orchid and honey aromas lay an excellent flavor foundation for the tea soup.
The Art of Teaware: The Importance of Matching and Crafting Tea Sets
Chaozhou Gongfu tea demands meticulous attention to its teaware. A complete set includes at least ten items, such as a teapot, teacups, and a small red clay stove. The selection of teaware always adheres to the core principles of small size, shallow depth, uniformity, and age.
Small Size: The small size of the teapot and cups helps to concentrate the aroma of the tea, preventing the rich fragrance of Phoenix Dancong tea from dissipating easily.
Shallow Depth: The open bottom of the cups allows for easy heat dissipation, suitable for the habit of sipping Gongfu tea.
Uniformity: The teaware is coordinated and unified, showcasing the elegant style of Chinese tea ceremony.
Age:Teaware develops a patina over time, becoming more charming with age.
Exquisite teaware, crafted with the ingenuity of artisans, some adorned with glazes and carvings, has long transcended its function as a mere vessel, becoming a family heirloom passed down through generations in Chaozhou households.
Technique for Enhancing Aroma: The Refined Art of Brewing Tea
The brewing process of Chaozhou Gongfu tea is meticulous, with eight interconnected steps, each designed to awaken the tea's inherent flavor. When brewing Phoenix Dancong tea, the amount of tea and brewing technique can be finely adjusted to maximize its aroma and flavor.
1. Preparing the Utensils: Wash all tea utensils thoroughly and then rinse them with boiling water to warm them.
2. Adding Tea: Place tea leaves suitable for the teapot shape into the pot.
3. Waiting for the Water to Boil: Gongfu tea also has specific requirements for water quality. Water is classified into three grades. Lu Yu wrote in the 《Classic of Tea》: "The best water is mountain spring water, followed by river water, and then well water." The optimal temperature is when the water reaches the second boil, when the "crab eye bubbles" (small bubbles appearing) and the "fish eye bubbles" (large bubbles forming) are just beginning to form.
4. Brewing Tea: The key is "high pouring," where boiling water is poured directly into the teapot from a height. The force of the water causes the tea leaves to tumble and agitate within the pot, fully unfurling the buds and releasing their aroma.
5. Skimming the Foam: After pouring boiling water into the pot, a fine layer of foam rises to the surface of the tea. Gently skim this foam off with the lid, holding the lid firmly, before sealing the pot tightly.
6. Rinsing the Pot: After skimming the foam and covering the pot, pour boiling water over the entire pot.
7. Warming the Cups: Place the teacups in the tea tray and rinse them repeatedly with boiling water.
8. Serving the Tea: First, use the "Guan Yu patrolling the city" method, moving the teapot in a circular motion along the surface of the cups to distribute the tea evenly, ensuring a consistent strength in each cup. When the tea in the pot is almost gone, use the "Han Xin counting soldiers" technique to carefully pour the remaining tea from the bottom of the pot into each cup.
Tea Etiquette Conveys Affection: Humanistic Sentiments Between Cups
The etiquette of Chaozhou Gongfu tea embodies the Chaozhou people's way of life and fine virtues, a fusion of tea culture and humanistic sentiments.
Traditional tea ceremonies, regardless of the number of guests, always use three teacups arranged in a "品" (pin) shape. The first cup is offered to the guest on the left, regardless of status, age, or gender. After each cup is finished, it is rinsed with boiling water before being offered to others, demonstrating respect and cleanliness in every detail.
When Chaozhou people gather, they often brew a pot of Phoenix Dancong tea, using tea to entertain guests and to connect with each other, letting the rich aroma of tea become a warm bond in their interactions.
The Fusion of Tea Art: The Symbiotic Bond Between Gongfu Tea and Dancong Tea
Chaozhou Gongfu tea takes Phoenix Dancong tea as its core foundation, the two being inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing. The rich aroma and mellow aftertaste of Dancong tea lay the foundation for the unique flavor of Gongfu tea; the meticulous techniques of Gongfu tea, in turn, bring out the aroma and charm of Dancong tea to their fullest potential.
The "Way of Fire" for Phoenix Dancong Tea
As the tea proverb says, "Tea is the king, fire is the minister," the high aroma and unique charm of Dancong tea depend crucially on the roasting process. Roasting is not only used for dehydration and storage, but also for quality control, enhancing aroma, removing impurities, and making the tea soup more mellow and smooth.
Traditional Charcoal Roasting – The Soul of Premium Dancong Tea
Traditional charcoal roasting is the core process of premium Dancong tea and a representative of traditional tea making.
The tea master first thoroughly burns the charcoal, then covers it with rice husk ash to control the temperature, and then slowly roasts it in a bamboo roasting basket for 10-12 hours, turning the tea hourly to ensure even heating.
Advantages:
Strong far-infrared heat penetration, resulting in a delicate and smooth tea soup.
Charcoal absorbs impurities, resulting in a purer tea soup.
Inherent mellow charcoal aroma, with a long-lasting aftertaste.
Modern Electric Roasting – A Popular Choice
Electric roasting is suitable for large-scale, standardized production, offering high efficiency and convenience.
Using electric energy, the tea leaves are roasted through heat convection and conduction, roasting from the surface to the interior.
Features:
High efficiency, precise temperature control, suitable for mass production.
Rapid aroma enhancement, resulting in a high-pitched aroma in the dry tea.
Both processes involve multiple roasting stages: an initial high-temperature roast to remove moisture, followed by a low-temperature, slow roast to enhance aroma. Newly roasted tea leaves have a stronger "fire" (heatiness) and require professional aging and storage to allow for more stable tea properties and a purer aroma.
A Tea That Understands Fragrance: Dofo Tea Phoenix Dancong Tea
When discussing the inheritance and innovation of Phoenix Dancong tea, Dofo Tea is indispensable. This premium tea brand, deeply rooted in Phoenix Mountain in Chaozhou, perfectly embodies the symbiotic beauty of Chaozhou Gongfu tea and Phoenix Dancong.
Dofo Tea's tea leaves come from the core production area of Phoenix Mountain, a region characterized by high altitude, pollution-free conditions, and ancient, high-quality Dancong tea trees, laying a solid foundation for excellent tea.
Professional Control: Nationally certified senior tea tasters oversee the entire harvesting and processing process, ensuring quality from the source.
Traditional Charcoal Roasting × Modern Quality Control: Adhering to the traditional Chaozhou charcoal roasting process, the tea is slowly roasted for 10-12 hours, combined with modern precise quality control, balancing tradition and science for consistent quality.
Triple Aroma Blend: The elegant orchid fragrance, the sweet honey aroma, and the mellow charcoal aroma blend perfectly, resulting in a pure, clean tea soup with a pronounced aftertaste, showcasing the true flavor of Phoenix Dancong.
Youthful Tea Culture: Interpreting traditional Gongfu tea from a modern perspective, upholding craftsmanship while understanding contemporary tea-drinking needs.
Classic Aromas Available: Featuring popular aromas such as "Duck Shit Aroma" and "Honey Orchid Aroma," suitable for the eight brewing steps of Chaozhou Gongfu tea.
All-Around Approach: Experienced tea drinkers can appreciate the nuances, while beginners can easily learn and experience the charm of Gongfu tea.
International Certification: Winner of the Gold Medal at the World Tea Expo in France, FDA certified, and renowned globally for its quality.
Gongfu Tea Goes Global: Using tea as a bridge, we convey the craftsmanship of Lingnan and the contemporary aesthetics of Gongfu tea to tea lovers around the world.
A single leaf reveals the seasons, a cup of tea reveals the world. The charm of Chaozhou Gongfu tea lies in the authenticity of Phoenix Dancong tea and the sense of ritual honed by the Chinese people over thousands of years. It has long since transcended the ancient city of Chaozhou, stepping onto the international stage and becoming a window for the world to understand Chinese tea culture.
In this fast-paced era, a cup of Gongfu tea teaches us to slow down and savor the depth of time. May this mellow Eastern wine continue to resonate globally with its unique charm, telling a moving story of Chinese craftsmanship.