HINTON W.Va. (Hinton News) – After 118 years you would think that the Hinton Wednesday Club would have run out of ideas for new experiences, but no. On Nov. 6, the members held their meeting at the Fox and Fairy Tea House in Hinton. Tea Specialist, Kira Le Pier, led the members through the Chinese Tea Ceremony. Kira demonstrated the technique of pouring, brewing and serving.
Everyone was enchanted by the Tea Pets. Tea pets, also known as drinking buddies, are small figurines that sit on the tea tray. They are usually made of clay that develops a patina from both the oils in tea and the action of pouring tea over the pet. They are not just decorative but part of the ceremony. We were amazed when Kira’s tea pets changed colors, spit and some even bubbled.
When asked the difference between the Chinese Ceremony and the Japanese ceremony, Kira said the Chinese focuses on the quality of the tea and the social aspect, while the Japanese Ceremony is centered around rituals and aesthetics.
It was a unique meeting and we encourage everyone to spend some time at the Fox and Fairy where they center on the social aspect of tea with friends.
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