A traditional tea ceremony has 7 elements or steps:

• White Crane in the Bath
  
  The first step is called “White Crane in the Bath”, which means washing the teapot with boiled water, to raise the temperature of teapot and cups. The quality of brewed tea is influenced by the teapot and cups as well. Today, I am going to use purple clay teapots from Yixing, China. The birth of purple clay teapots  dates back to Song Dynasty. It became popular during Ming and Qing Dynasty.  Moreover, purple clay teapots are one of the royal tributes in Qing Dynasty. Yixing purple clay teapots have the best quality as well as an elegant appearance. If you pour clean water into purple clay teapot which has been used for long time, it will still send out tea aroma.

• Appreciate  the Tea Leaf
  
  This is the tea leaf I am going to brew today. Please examine and admire its appearance, aroma and quality.

• Black Dragon Enters the Palace
  
  We call the process of pouring tea leaves  from the tea canister into the teapot as “Black Dragon Enters the Palace.” The amount of tea leaves used depends on the nature of the tea.  Too many tea leaves make the tea bitter, too few make it tasteless. Therefore, be careful with dosage.

• Cleansing and Waking the Dragon
  
  With the tea leaves in teapot,  add water to rinse the tea leaves of any dust.  Gently  pour water out into a strainer then add fresh water and allow the tea to steep.

• Rising from an Elevated Pot
  
  Brewing Chinese tea emphasizes that you  “pour the  boiled water from elevation” and “serve the tea from lower position”. Therefore, let’s raise the kettle at shoulder height and pour the water into the teapot until it overflows.

• Floating Flower
  
  Use the lid to scrape the floating foam lightly. So that  we can have clearer tea soup. I call this process  the  “Floating Flower.”

• Auspicious Dragon Falls Rain
  
  You must serve the tea into each cup quickly and smoothly, so that it resembles an auspicious dragon in the falling rain. In order to make sure every cup of tea has the same taste, the tea should be served delicately, not too hastily  but not too slowly. The movement should be smooth and elegant.

• Enjoy Your Tea
  
  In order to completely appreciate your tea, you need to experience it in three phases.  First slowly inhale to appreciate its aroma, second sip to savor its taste, third drink to experience its mellow sweetness. The only way to enjoy the full substance of  tea is drink it slowly and peacefully. Now, we invite you, our honored guests, to sit back, relax and enjoy a steaming  cup of Chinese tea.