IV.Tea Ceremony of Production Festivals
Fig.4-23 Pu’er tea and tea ceremony of production festivals
Tea is widely used in the life of ethnic minorities, with various forms of expression.With the development of society, Torch Festival, New Rice Festival and Spring Festival have become the traditional festivals of the Wa people.Wa’s festivals are often associated with religious activities.Tea is indispensable for all festivals.Every Spring Festival and the first day of the lunar year, Bai people would drink puffed rice tea and treat guests with puffed rice tea.In old customs, red incense and fried rice tea are used to“connect heaven and earth”.The host treats guests with three-cup tea accompanied by pine nuts.When they visit relatives and friends during the festival, tea would be presented as gift to show their affection.If guests arrive, the tea would be brewed to treat the guests.The Naxi people also drink puffed rice tea and entertain guests with it.
At traditional festivals, such as Kuoshi Festival (the beginning of the year ), Harvest Festival,Bathing Hall, Knifeladder-Climbing Festival, etc., baked oil-salt boiling tea, boiling pot tea,lacquer tree seed oil tea, hempseed-added big-leaf tea, five-taste tea, etc.would be offered for family reunion and reception of guests.When friends and relatives visit each other, they will present tea to each other.In the traditional festival of Nu nationality, tea will also be used to clean away the dirt and the old of the past year and usher in the new, and treat guests.