Chinese Tea Customs

In casual occasions, there is tea; in serious occasions, there is, again, tea. The Chinese world would almost not function if tea is taken away from it.

Chinese Tea in Weddings

We describe parents who long for their sons to get married as “wanting to drink ‘daughter-in-law’s tea'”. In traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That is a gesture of gratefulness. It’s like saying “thanks for bring us up. Now that we are getting married. We owe it all to you.”

To Show Respect With Tea

Younger generation greet elder generation with a cup of tea. That is a way to show their respect.One note is that, in organizations and families, only people of lower rank serve tea to higher rank people. At least it was like that in the old days.Today, the society is more liberal. Parents may pour kids a cup of tea at home, bosses may pour subordinates a cup of tea at restaurants. But it’s just parents and bosses being nice. It would be inappropriate for low rank to expect high rank to serve tea in formal occasions.

To Make Apology With Tea

When we have a serious apology to make and words are not enough, we “pour tea and apologize”. That is an act of regretfulness and submissiveness.

How to Say “Thank You For The Tea” – Authentic Chinese Way

After person A pours a cup of tea for person B, you see B knocking his bended index and middle fingers (or similar varieties of finger tapping) on the table. I bet you are thinking it is some kind of signal between two secret agents. You are wrong. They are just Chinese. The story goes like this. In the Ching Dynasty some 300-400 years ago, the emperor liked to dress casual and visit his kingdom. Servants were told to stay low profile in order not to reveal their master’s identity. One day in a restaurant. The emperor, after pouring himself a cup of tea, filled the servant’s cup as well. To the servant, it was a huge grace having the emperor pour him a cup of tea. Out of reflex, he wanted to kneel down (kowtow) and thank his master. But he was stopped because that would give away the emperor’s identity. So instead of getting down on his knees, the servant kowtow’ed with two of his fingers.

That “thank you” knock is still in use today in the 21st century. It is considered polite to make this gesture by tapping the table if someone pour you a cup of tea or top up your cup.

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