Half A Cup Of Tea Is A Warm Welcome In Kazakhstan
If you’re visiting someone’s home or even office in Kazakhstan, you will probably be greeted with some tea – but only half a cup. While you might think this is rude and question your host’s generosity, it’s actually quite the opposite! By receiving a half cup of tea, your host is telling you that they want you to stay and keep the conversation going so they can keep filling up your cup with hot tea. However, if you get a full cup of tea, it may be a hint to start wrapping up the conversation.
Don’t Clean Your Teapot In China
Tea ceremonies in China usually involve a traditional clay teapot. If you’re involved in such a ceremony and then offer to help clean up afterward, make sure not to wash the teapot! The teapot is reused and simply rinsed out between uses, thus providing a little leftover tea in each serving. This gives the teapot “soul” and by washing the teapot with chemicals, it’s considered to be killing the soul of the teapot!
Get more details on these interesting food etiquette rules from around the world in the video below!