Everyday

• A fine tea accompanies most friendly gatherings in China.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Tea punctuates everyday encounters, with a unique custom for each type of social gathering. During a social visit, either at home or at a tea house, friends and relatives will start with a cup of tea. The host of any of these activities will carefully fill their guest's cups only seven tenths of the way full, the rest is said to be full of friendship. The guest will then empty their cup in three sips.
  
  

Dim Sum

• Dim sum is a common way to enjoy an informal business lunch.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Yum Cha is the Cantonese midday tea-drinking tradition that began in tea houses along the Silk Road. Travelers would stop for a rest at the little houses and were greeted with tea and friendly conversation. Centuries later, tiny plates of food were introduced to Yum Cha and the name became Dim Sum or "to touch your heart". Tea houses and restaurants in China continue to serve Dim Sum, and the global reach of the tradition has turned it into a favorite brunch option throughout the West. A teapot may be filled several times throughout a Yum Cha sitting and when a person's cup is filled, they will typically rap on the table with bent fore and middle fingers.
  
  

Marriage

• A young Chinese man's parents are often said to be yearning for "daughter-in-law's tea". The wedding begins with a bride serving her parents tea before the ceremony and then closes when the new couple serves the grooms parents after the ceremony. The tea is served with lotus seeds and two red dates, because the word "seed" sounds like "child" and the word "date" sounds like "early".
  
  

Small Gestures

• A child will serve tea to their parents and grandparents out of respect for them.Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
  
  Small social gestures, such as respect and apology are also punctuated by tea. The person communicating the emotion is the one that prepares the tea. To symbolize respect, a younger member of the family will serve the older members or an employee will serve their boss. Similarly, out of regret or grievance, the submissive person will serve those whom they are apologizing to.