Nearly 30 international students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, delved into the art of traditional Chinese tea culture on January 30.
The cohort of degree-seeking and exchange students from Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, the U.S., and other nations spent the session exploring tea philosophy, sampling teas crafted by professional masters, and practising the rituals of tea preparation. They gained hands-on experience in brewing and savouring tea steeped in millennia of heritage.
According to the tea master, seven core steps define the tea ceremony: greeting guests, arranging the tea set, boiling water, warming vessels to awaken tea aromas, brewing the tea, serving, and finally sipping. For many students, the tea-making process offered a profound moment of discovery.
Gleb Danilkin, a first-year student from Kazakhstan, described the experience as "eye-opening." "I learned so much, from preparing the tea set to pouring and sipping tea," he said. "I will probably drink my tea like this from now on."
South Korean first-year student Minjeong Kim found inner peace in the tea-making process. "Making tea in the traditional way helped me calm down and clear my mind," she said.
Dario Samuele Spielmann, an exchange student from the University of St.Gallen in Switzerland, said he came to China to experience its culture, and this activity gave him the perfect chance.
"Coming here to see how Chinese people make tea and even learn to brew my own has been an excellent experience, which I really enjoyed," he said. "The teachers were so nice and patient. It was very heartwarming."
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Photo | The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
