How To Do Tea Ceremony For Chinese Wedding Right

Table of Content

• History of Tea Ceremony
• When and where should the Tea Ceremony be held
• What to prepare for the Tea Ceremony
• How to prepare for the tea
• Who to invite for the Tea Ceremony
• How to serve the tea

History of Tea Ceremony

The Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony is a deeply rooted tradition with a history dating back centuries. Its origins can be traced to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and gained broader prominence during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

This ceremony is imbued with symbolism. The act of serving tea signifies the couple's gratitude to their parents for their upbringing, and serves as a gesture of respect and a manifestation of filial piety. In Chinese, the tea ceremony is often referred to as 喝媳妇茶 (drinking daughter-in-law’s tea), symbolizing the acceptance of the daughter-in-law into the family. By offering tea to elders, the couple seeks blessings and acceptance from each other’s families.

When and where should the Tea Ceremony be held?

The tea ceremony traditionally takes place on the wedding day. It is typically held at the parents' home but can also be done in a hotel if time is of concern. We get it – you've got so many things on your plate during the wedding day. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, so here's a quick run down of events to keep everything in check!

• The groom picks up the bride at her parent's home, after the Gatecrash ceremony (if any).
• The bride then arrives at the groom's parents' home, initiating the tea ceremony for the groom's parents and extended family.
• Subsequently, the couple returns to the bride's parents' home, where another tea ceremony takes place, serving tea to her parents and family.

What to prepare for the Tea Ceremony

• Chinese tea set (included in our dowry package)
• Disposable tea cups (optional)
• Ingredients for preparing the tea
• Guestlist
• Red packets
• Outfit for tea ceremony
• Decorations for the tea ceremony

How to prepare for the tea

The most common choice is the Red Dates & Longan Tea. Why, you ask? Well, it's because it's sweet – like a sip of pure happiness! Simplify your preparation by opting for Changjiu Wedding's grain set, which includes all the necessary ingredients. Watch the video below and follow the straightforward steps. Now, go ahead, brew up some love, and enjoy every sip of your Red Dates & Longan Tea.

1. Gather all your ingredients. Make sure to remove the outer shells of the longans!
2. Give everything (except the longans, rock melons and sugar) a good spa day in a rinsing bowl.
3. Bring about 2 cups of water to boil, and toss in everything.
4. Let the tea simmer in all its glory for a minimum of 30 mins.
5. Once the simmering fiesta is over, it's time for the grand finale. Pour that liquid gold into your teapot, and voila - your Red Dates & Longan Tea is ready!

Who to invite for the Tea Ceremony

Expect the presence of all family members during the ceremony. For a more intimate setting, you may invite only immediate family members. Don't forget to enlist the help of attendants, often the bridesmaids, to assist in the handling of teacups and refilling of tea. Having a family member to help out is fine too, just make sure the person helping is not in the next line to avoid any potential confusion or awkwardness!

How to serve the tea

The serving of tea follows a structured order. Tea is first served to parents, followed by other family members & relatives in the order of seniority.

• Parents
• Grandparents
• Aunts & Uncles (in order of seniority)
• Elder siblings
• Elder cousins
• Younger Siblings
• Nieces & Nephews

Tea is offered individually by both the bride and groom. Each family member will receive two cups of tea, one from the bride and one from the groom. Present the tea cups with both hands, a gesture symbolizing respect. Kneeling while serving the tea conveys the couple's deep appreciation for their elders and underscores the sincerity of the couple's gratitude.

When serving the tea, address each family member using their appropriate kinship term. For example, "Please have some tea, Father" or "Uncle, please accept this cup of tea." After the family member receives the tea, he or she should drink it as a symbol of accepting the couple into the family. Following the tea offering, the family member reciprocates with a gift, typically a red packet or gold jewelry. They will then express their blessings and good wishes for the couple's future. 

Continue down the line until every family has been served tea. This marks the completion of the tea serving ritual.

Shop for a complete selection of Chinese wedding essentials, bridesmaids gifts & more with us. From vows to wows, Changjiu wedding is here to make your special day stress-free! Need tea ceremony set? Check them out here.