Chinese Tea Art Performance | Glass Brewing Method

Glass brewing is popular in the Yangtze River Basin, especially in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, famous for top green teas such as Longjing and Biluochun. Unlike traditional brewing with a teapot, a clear glass lets drinkers fully appreciate the beautiful shape and color of tea leaves unfurling in water, making it the ideal choice for delicate green teas.

Two standardized systems of glass brewing are widely recognized today. Professor Tong Qiqing outlined eight formal steps, while Liu Qiuping added a gentle cup-warming gesture to enhance aroma and taste, a detail often emphasized even in classic teapot brewing. These refined procedures form the core of modern glass tea art.

Glass brewing emphasizes soft, calm movements that ease restlessness and bring peace of mind. Though it uses glass instead of a teapot, it carries the same elegant spirit of Chinese tea art. This performance is often shown in teahouses in Hangzhou, Shanghai and other major cities.

Traditional tea art keeps evolving with the times. Ancient styles have been updated, and even the classic teapot and heating tools have been modernized to fit contemporary life. By moving forward with society, Chinese tea art remains vibrant and full of vitality.