Meaning of Gongfu Tea: 工夫 vs. 功夫 Explained
Gongfu tea means tea made and brewed with great time, skill and care. The “gongfu” in gongfu tea is written 工夫, meaning effort and craftsmanship, not 功夫, the martial arts of Bruce Lee and Shaolin, even though the two sound the same. Gongfu tea has two meanings: a group of carefully crafted teas, mostly black teas, and a focused Chinese way of brewing tea.
Is gongfu tea related to kung fu?
When you hear “gongfu,” you might think of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or Shaolin, the Chinese martial arts officially called wǔshù (武术). But the gongfu in tea is a different word. Even Chinese people often mix them up:
- 功夫 (martial arts): 功 means power, ability and effect. A man with power is able to fight.
- 工夫 (tea): 工 means work, focus, finesse, diligence and time. It describes a person with an artisan’s spirit who keeps improving their craft, the person who makes and brews your tea.
Both words share the second character, 夫 (fū), meaning “man.” In short, 功夫 is about the result, while 工夫 is about the process.
What are the two meanings of gongfu tea?
- A group of teas: teas made with a great deal of 工夫. Most are black teas, such as Dian Hong Gongfu, Qimen (Keemun) Gongfu, Ning Hong Gongfu and Tanyang Gongfu.
- A brewing method: brewing with special teaware, close focus and set steps. Fujian and Guangdong in southern China are especially passionate about this brewing culture.
What is the core value of gongfu tea?
When you hear “gongfu tea,” think of the process. It’s about how much time you spend practicing, and how fully your mind and spirit melt into serving a cup of tea. That is the core value of gongfu tea. Get started with the essential gongfu teaware and five tips for brewing gongfu tea.
How do you brew Tanyang Gongfu?
Brew Tanyang Gongfu with water at 90°C (195°F). For the Chinese gongfu method, use 4 g of leaf per 100 ml of water: the first infusion is 5 seconds, add 5 seconds for each infusion after that, and enjoy up to 7 infusions. For the western cup method, use 0.6 g per 100 ml: the first infusion is 180 seconds, each infusion after that is 60 seconds longer, for 3 infusions in total. These are the same steps as the Brewing Method tab on the product page.
FAQ
Is it gongfu tea or kung fu tea?
Both spellings are used, but the tea word is 工夫 (effort and skill), not 功夫 (martial arts).
What are gongfu black teas?
Carefully crafted Chinese black teas such as Dian Hong Gongfu, Keemun Gongfu, Ning Hong Gongfu and Tanyang Gongfu.
Where is gongfu brewing most popular?
In Fujian and Guangdong, in southern China.