Chinese Teapot Set
Posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Introduction To Pu-erh Tea
The relatively rare Pu’er (or Pu-erh) teas are produced in the southern Yunnan province of China according to a very old and unique method. The tea use for the prouction of Pu’er comes from an old and wide-leaved variety of the Camillia sinensis plant from which all teas come, but its peculiar, long aging process is different from that of other teas, and provides a distinctive-tasting, earthy cup of tea.
Although all Pu’er begins as raw green tea leaves (called sheng), it is oxidized and cured to a red or brown hue in one of two ways. The traditional way involves aging the tea, which has been condensed into small or large flat discs or cakes, for long periods of time. Pu’ers are kept for two, ten, or even up to fifty years as they very slowly and gracefully take on complex flavors and aromas that range from sweet to woodsy. Rare versions of this kind of Pu’er can be very expensive and are highly sought by tea connoisseurs and collectors.
Cooked Pu-erh (called shu), on the other hand, is usually found in loose-leaf form. Cooking the tea is a way to try to achieve the traditional Pu-erh flavors without the time and patience required for the traditional aging process. While there are some fine cooked Pu-erhs available, in general they do not match the complexity of the aged varieties.
The history of Pu’er is, as with many teas, a mix of fact and legend. We know that the city of Pu’er became famous for its unique teas during the Ming dynasty. It is said that local farmers would send their best teas to the emperor as tribute, and that they were pressed into elaborately decorated silk-wrapped cakes and sealed. Local administrators would collect these prized teas and send them along to the royal family by horseback, and it was after receiving these teas after their long journeys that the nobility came to prize the flavors the teas gained while aging during their long travels.
Making Pu’er tea is much like making regular loose-leaf tea. Break off the amount of tea you need from the cake of Pu’er, and then break up the layers of tea so that they all get some exposure to the water and brew as usual. Pu’er teas can be re-used for multiple pots particularly well, especially if the leaves are re-used before they are allowed to dry out. As the pungent flavors of Pu’er can be strange and unusual at first, try different steeping times to regulate the strength of the tea. Pu’ers also have all of the health benefits of other teas, such as high levels of antioxidants, and can be enjoyed for their medicinal properties as well as their delicious flavors.
Add style to your tea time with a japanese tea set, kyusu, or cast iron teapot.
Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony (Chinese)
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Adagio Teas Ingenuitea Teapot Enjoy the superior flavor of tea with this ingenious teapot. Steep loose tea as easily as using a bag. With three easy steps your tea is ready to enjoy. Step 1: Place tea leaves and hot water inside. Steep according to taste. Step 2: Placing teapot atop a cup opens a valve at bottom. Tea flows down. Step 3: Your cup is ready. Toss the teaves and place teapot in dishwasher. Durable, microwavea… |
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Thermos Nissan 12-Ounce Stainless-Steel Tea Tumbler with Infuser $15.50 .Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Tea Tumbler with Infuser. TherMax double wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention. Unbreakable 18/8 stainless steel interior and exterior withstand the demands of everyday use. Leak-proof travel cover seals closed for carefree portability. Separate infuser and drink lids let you brew and enjoy, all in one container. Infuser lid lets you brew tea ri… |
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Primula Flowering Tea Set with 40-Ounce Pot, Clear $29.40 Amaze your guests with this beautiful glass teapot with twelve different jasmine green tea flowers. This pot gorgeously displays flowering teas in full bloom and the set has a sleek but classic design. The teapot comes with an infuser, for use with loose teas, and a lid to keep tea hot while brewing. The set is made completely of hand blown borosilicate glass making it safe for use in the microwav… |
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Chinese Tea Set – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Chinese Tea Ceremony – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Numi Organic Tea Flowering Gift Set in Handcrafted Mahogany Bamboo Chest: Glass Teapot & 6 Flowering Tea Blossoms $27.19 Packaged in an exotic hand-made dark mahogany bamboo case, this Flowering Gift Set holds a bin of Numi’s Bouquet Flowering Tea that is filled with bouquets of tea leaves and Numi’s Teahouse glass teapot through which to observe the blooming tea petals. A simple luxury that heightens the tea experience and makes for a singular conversation piece, this reusable case will have a long-lasting impressi… |
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Primula Gift Set of 12 Assorted Green Tea With Fresh Jasmine Flowers $12.99 Primula Flowering Teas are produced by artisans in China. The flowering teas are compounded of premium-grade Green Tea, known for its antioxidents and healthful properties, with all natural flowers. The green tea has also been blended with jasmine to make for an aromatic scent. This package includes green tea with 12 different styles and colors…. |
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10 Blooming Flower Tea – 5 Jasmine and 5 Green $9.99 10 individual blooming tea – 5 Jasmine and 5 Green, offer you an opportunity to try both. Fine jasmine scented tea leaves are hand tied around the base of a Red Globe Amaranth flower. As the tea steeps the leaves gently open and “bloom” into a lovely flower. The other, are fine spring picked tea leaves, hand tied into delicate balls. As the tea steeps the leaves gently open to reveal a string of t… |
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The Beauty of Chinese Yixing Teapots: And the Finer Arts of Tea Drinking $49.95 … |
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Hall China Tea And Coffee Pots: The First 100 Years (Schiffer Book for Collectors with Price Guide) $29.53 This is the greatest collection of tea and coffee pots, beverage sets, and hot water pots, made by the prolific Hall China Company ever displayed in a single volume! From the company’s establishment in 1903 until today, Hall China, of East Liverpool, Ohio, has produced a vast array of innovative pots in forms and with decorations that kept up with the times. Many are displayed here among 845 beaut… |
