Why is there 'Gongfu' in Gongfu tea?

YuanJia131

In simple terms, Gongfu tea is tea that requires effort, and the term "Gongfu" embodies a triple reverence for time, craftsmanship, and mindset.

From the production of tea leaves to the moment the brew touches the palate, every step is imbued with profound meaning, ultimately crystallizing into a life art that blends craftsmanship and philosophy.

Making tea requires enduring the tempering of time. Take Dian Hong as an example: from the tea picking before the Qingming Festival, tea farmers must manually harvest single buds, one bud with one leaf, and one bud with two leaves before the morning dew has dried, requiring approximately tens of thousands of precise "focus" movements by hand and eye for each picking. During withering, the leaves must be observed every hour and appropriately flipped to ensure even moisture loss. Rolling demands a rhythm of "light-heavy-light" force, which not only breaks cell walls to release tea juice but also maintains the integrity of the tea strips. Finally, drying requires precise control of the tea dryer's temperature, speed, and time, as well as managing the thinness or thickness of manual tea loading, the force and technique of tea grasping and scattering—all critical factors determining the final quality of a batch of tea. This meticulous dedication to time and technique makes craftsmanship the cornerstone of tea quality.

Tea tasting is a spiritual and sensory practice. At first, the bitterness is perceived on the tip of the tongue, followed by a sweet taste spreading across the tongue, with lingering "aftertaste" and "throat resonance," culminating in the "aroma of the cup." The entire process resembles savoring the myriad facets of life. This meticulous tasting is not merely a sensory exercise but also a philosophical journey through tea's flavors, revealing the life wisdom of "after bitterness comes sweetness." It elevates tea tasting into a path of self-cultivation and refinement.

From tea gardens to the dining table, the term "gongfu" in Gongfu tea encapsulates the Chinese people's love for and wisdom in life—letting time refine quality, embracing life with composure, crafting details with skill, and enriching existence with insight. Perhaps this is the enduring charm of Gongfu tea that has remained vibrant for millennia.