A quiet, practical guide to Gongfu Cha
gongfutea.co is an independent website that introduces Chinese Gongfu Cha and tea culture to international readers. We write about the ceremony, the six families of Chinese tea, the teaware, and the history behind them — clearly, practically, and without jargon or brand hype.
Our goal is to share Chinese tea culture accurately. Much English-language tea content online is either too shallow or wrapped in mysticism. We try to do better by starting with Chinese-language sources where possible: the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network, provincial government portals, and recognized tea-producing regions such as Chaozhou, Anxi, and Yixing. We list those sources at the end of each article so you can verify claims yourself.
This site is run by a small, independent team. We are not tea masters or museum researchers. Our job is to find authoritative Chinese sources on tea, understand them, and explain them clearly for international readers.
When a tradition has many regional versions, we say so. When we simplify, we tell you.
What we cover
- Gongfu Cha — what the ceremony is, where it comes from, and how to brew your first session.
- How to drink — water temperature, tasting technique, tea and health, and the etiquette of the tea table.
- Tea history — from Lu Yu's Classic of Tea to Chaozhou's UNESCO-recognized tea art.
- Tea types — green, white, yellow, oolong, black, and dark tea, with brewing guides for each.
- Teaware — gaiwans, Yixing pots, fairness pitchers, cups, and how to choose your first set.
Editorial standards
- Chinese-language sources first. We start with ihchina.cn, provincial portals, and recognized tea regions.
- Cross-checking. Names, dates, and regional variants are checked against multiple sources when possible.
- Plain explanation. We translate terms and concepts, not just words.
- Correction. We update articles when better information becomes available, and last-reviewed dates appear on each page.
What this site is not
We are not a tea shop. We do not sell leaves or teaware, and we do not accept payment to feature products. We are not affiliated with any tea company, government body, or heritage institution. This independence lets us recommend what works for beginners without commercial pressure.
Advertising
The site is supported by programmatic advertising (Google AdSense). Ads keep the reading free; they never influence what we write or which teas we discuss.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or tea recommendations: [email protected].