Gungfu tea ceremony

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The Gungfu tea ceremony is a highly stylized, traditional Chinese way of serving tea to a group. The host prepares a small teapot and a group of small tea cups, and adds many more tea leaves than normal to the pot. The tea is brewed or infused several times, with all guests partaking a small cup of each pot of tea.

What does Gung-Fu mean? The usual accepted definition is "Hard Work". While not really hard work, the Gung Fu method of tea preparation is more demanding of time and attention than most other methods. The purpose of Gung Fu tea preparation, is to create a dense, almost espresso like manifestation of tea. Its equipment, at its most basic, is a tiny tea pot (preferably Yixing), a decanting vessel, a dump bowl, a couple of thimble sized cups, and (of course) tea.

For starters, get lots of hot water and a bunch of tea (Oolong is generally considered the best for this method). Warm the tiny tea pot with scalding water, dump the water, and load the pot about 1/3 the way up with a great tea (trust me, this method will highlight any defect in tea, so choose wisely.) Pour in enough water to wet the tea leaves down, and let sit for 3 long breaths. Pour out the water, and inhale that incredible fragrance. Now refill the vessel with hot water, and allow to sit for 4 deep breaths, pour the tea concentrate into a pre warmed decanter, and then into the thimble sized cups. Why decant, before you serve? Because this method will cause the tea served to be uneven in strength, even in the short pouring time between the first guest and the second! The resulting elixir is incredible. Not strong or bitter, but such concentrated bouquet and flavor that the face of the infinite almost becomes manifest. Well prepared, the flavor can linger on a thrilled tongue for up to 10 minutes! Repeat the process and, with each repetition, slightly increase the time of water exposure to leaf. One can do this up to eight times and each brew will reveal something new and exciting. Do you think I wax poetic? Here is a poem, written in gratitude to a Mandarin, for a gift of tea, which alludes to the Gung Fu ceremony:

   The first bowl sleekly moistened throat and lips,
   The second banished all my loneliness
   The third expelled the dullness from my mind,
   Sharpening inspiration gained
   from all the books I've read.
   The fourth brought forth light perspiration,
   Dispersing a lifetimes troubles through my pores.
   The fifth bowl cleansed every atom of my being.
   The sixth has made me kin to the Immortals.
   This seventh..."
   I can take no more.
   —Lu Tung, 8th century Chinese Poet

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