While Chinese tea culture emphasizes the character for "beauty" and Japanese tea culture emphasizes the character for "way," the Korean tea ceremony is relatively more relaxed.
The unique aspect of Korean tea culture lies in the fragrant taste of the tea combined with its distinctive brewing methods.
Although the development of tea culture in Korea came later, it still embodies the essence of freedom, breaking away from traditional constraints.
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Koreans typically use a simple tea set, including a teapot, tea cups, saucers, a water pitcher (for pouring hot water into the teapot), a tea caddy, and a tea scoop.
These utensils are made from high-quality Hagi ceramics with thick glaze, featuring elegant designs and colors.
When enjoying tea, guests sit a comfortable distance from the tea table.
The host pours the tea into cups placed on a wooden tray and serves each guest individually.
Notably, each guest is allowed to enjoy a maximum of two rounds of tea during the ceremony.
When pouring tea, the guest’s cup is placed on the left, while the host’s cup is on the right.
The tea is poured in the order of guests first, then the host. Guests must not lift their cups before the host does.
During the ceremony, each person uses one hand to hold the cup while the other hand covers the top, with the palm facing inward, slowly bringing the cup close to the nose to savor the aroma.
Everyone should drink the tea slowly, taking small sips without making any noise.
Additionally, if there are elders present, guests must turn their heads to the side as a sign of respect and privacy.
