Tea Etiquette in China

When paying a call, if the servant should bring in a cup of tea, there is no necessity of taking any particular notice of it, allow the servant to place it where he likes near you, and continue your conversation as though nothing had happened.
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The etiquette pertaining to tea drinking in China is curious. If a lady asks you to drink tea with her, and especially if the tea be sweetened, you can count yourself as well received and much liked. If she does not like you, the tea is bitter. Reports sayeth in cases of this sort, drainings are often used. Of course, it is needless to say that after one sip of such tea, the unliked visitor makes a prompt exit.

When paying a call, if the servant should bring in a cup of tea, there is no necessity of taking any particular notice of it, allow the servant to place it where he likes near you, and continue your conversation as though nothing had happened. If your business is pleasant and agreeable to the mistress or the master of the house, he or she will pass the beverage to you; if not, you are expected to leave it untouched; otherwise you are likely to have a quarrel on hand, and a Chinese quarrel, either with a man or woman, is unpleasant.— Hanford Journal, 1907

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