Tea draining tray facts for kids
A tea draining tray, sometimes called a tea sea, is a very important tool used in the Gongfu tea ceremony. It helps keep the area where you make tea clean and tidy. This special tray catches any extra water or tea that spills during the brewing process.
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What is a Tea Draining Tray?
A tea draining tray is like a small table with a special top that has holes or a grate. This design allows any spilled water or tea to drain through. Underneath the grate, there is usually a pan that collects all the liquid. Some trays even have a hose that can carry the waste water to a larger bucket. This clever system helps keep your tea-making space dry and neat.
Why is it Used in Gongfu Tea?
The Gongfu tea ceremony is a traditional Chinese way of brewing tea. It is known for being very detailed and precise. This method is often used for special teas like oolong and pu-erh teas. During the ceremony, you might rinse the tea leaves and warm up the teapots and cups many times. This makes the process quite wet!
Keeping Things Tidy
Because the Gongfu tea method involves a lot of rinsing and pouring, it can get messy. The tea draining tray is essential to manage all the liquids. It helps make sure that your table stays dry and clean. This allows you to focus on enjoying the tea-making process.
Warming and Rinsing
In the Gongfu ceremony, it's important to keep everything warm. Tea makers often pour hot water over the teapots and cups to warm them up. They also rinse the tea leaves before brewing. This helps to prepare the tea and the tea tools. All this water needs a place to go, and the tea tray is perfect for that.
Many Rounds of Tea
When you make tea using the Gongfu method, you might brew the same tea leaves many times. Sometimes, you can brew a pot of tea 4 to 10 times! Each time, there might be some spills or extra water. The tea draining tray makes sure that the whole process stays elegant and organized, even after many rounds of delicious tea.
