 | Drinking
tea is an art form in Vietnam’s former imperial capital of Hue, reflecting all
that matters in life.
April
2011
When people in Hue sit down together to drink tea, it’s the perfect time to talk about a range of
topics, from literature to current affairs. It strengthens friendships,
broadens their social network, and allows them to share the simple pleasures
life has to offer. The way people in Hue enjoy tea reflects their
personalities, outlook on life, emotions and even their mood.
In the old days, Hue Royalty established a set of
strict rules for drinking tea.  A typical occasion must meet certain
requirements in the following respects: venue, tea sets, tea types, brewing
water, and steps taken during the tea ceremony.
- Venue: tea
rooms tend to be the most luxurious and isolated space in the house. The
walls of the tea room are often decorated with water colors, calligraphy
and ancient poetry. Tea rooms also include bookshelves, a couple of
antiques, an ancient copper sculpture, or a few orchids, to create a
relaxing ambience.
The brewing water is collected from the morning dew
on lotus leaves, or can be brought from underground streams in the nearby
mountains. If this is impossible, the brewing water must at least come from
rain water. The water should not be over-boiled, to prevent the taste being
lost.
- Tuan tra (time
for drinking tea): guests sit on the left and the host on the right, to
make it more convenient for him or her to prepare the tea. The one who
lights the fire is always the host, and is considered an exciting task.
While lighting the fire to brew the water, he or she may add some aloe
wood to create a pleasant aroma.
The tea is poured first into the “tong” cup and then
the “tot” cup. While pouring the tea, part of the water is left for preparing
the next pot, to retain the original flavor as much as possible. The flavor of
the tea and the taste of the cookies and jam make both the host and their
guests feel refreshed.
When Hue people enjoy tea, it’s not simply about
drinking. They pay attention to the discussion and also to the details on the
tea sets: the picture and its design. In the past, Nguyen emperors sometimes
sent ambassadors to China to order making tea sets. This is why some of the
most famous tea sets are still maintained in Hue, such as those used by Emperor
Gia Long or Emperor Thieu Tri in the 19th century.
Keywords: Hue tea, Hue people, tea rooms, Nguyen
emperors, drink tea, imperial capital, lotus, flavor of tea, tea set,
enjoy tea
Click
here for the original article http://vietnamheritagetravel.com/travel-news/899-the-art-of-tea-in-hue-vietnam.html
Vietnam Vacation
Tours
to Vietnam
Holidays
to Vietnam
Vietnam
Hotels
Tour
to Vietnam World Heritages
|  |
LOADING