On 6th December 2019, USTB-DMU Confucius Institute hosted a traditional Chinese tea ceremony with rich nuancefor a group of senior staff from variousfaculties of De Montfort University.

Miss Han Guangxian,a teacher at the Confucius Institute,started the ceremony with an introduction, highlightingmajordifferences between Chinese and Western tea making methods and drinking habits. Most Britishpeople prefer to add sugar and milk to their tea, using bags, while the Chinese pay more attention to the original shape, colour, aroma, taste and flavour of tea, using leaves.

With melodious classical Chinese music, Han demonstrated procedures of traditional Chinese “Kung Fu Tea”, involving the ritual preparation of tea-wares and presentation of tea. She began with preheating the teapot, followed by the washing, pouring, scenting, tasting and drinking of the tea.

Theparticipantshave learned the basics of traditional Chinese tea culture and how to enjoy the fascinating process and how to show courtesy when others pour tea into their cups. They were especially interested in the way Chinese people bend their fingers to slightly tap the table to show thanks, which, according to legend, dates back to the days of Emperor Qianlong in the 18th century.

The sharing of Chinese tea ceremony by the Confucius Institute has givenDMU teachersachance not only to samplea taste of Chinese tea but also to experience the charm of Chinese culture.