BREW DO'S

Take tea like a native, from Beijing to Birmingham

Bruce Hutchiso for The Wall Street Journaln

Black tea is served in small, curved glasses.

Turkey

Black tea is served in small, curved glasses—a lot of them, as locals can consume dozens of cups a day. To avoid odd looks, add sugar only—no milk or cream.

Bruce Hutchison for The Wall Street Journal

It is considered rude to pour for yourself before serving others.

China

Chinese tea drinkers tend to reuse their leaves throughout the day. To fit in, put your tea into a vacuum flask and refill it with hot water as you run low. It is considered rude to pour for yourself before serving others. If you want to be traditional about it, you can gently tap your fingers on the table to say thank you. Two taps is the norm, because it symbolizes a repeated bow.

Bruce Hutchison for The Wall Street Journal

Tea is so important to Japanese culture that there are terms for native (ocha) as opposed to non-Japanese varieties (kocha.)

Japan

Tea is so important to Japanese culture that there are terms for native (ocha) as opposed to non-Japanese varieties (kocha). Chanoyu, literally "hot water for tea," is the culture related to the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, which sometimes involves striking a gong five times and preparing a bowl of thick green tea (koicha) for the guest of honor. The ceremony can last up to four hours. For less formal tea drinking, restaurants serve green tea; take it without milk or sugar.

Bruce Hutchison for The Wall Street Journal

Confusing though it may be, in Britain "high tea" is not a formal tea.

United Kingdom

Confusing though it may be, in Britain "high tea" is not a formal tea. It began as a working-class meal and evolved into a Sunday meal for the wealthy when servants were off. Afternoon tea is the proper name for the late-day pick-me-up. Never carry a tea cup without a saucer, and don't worry about the old-fashioned rule "milk in first." It was meant to prevent thin porcelain from cracking at the touch of hot liquid.

Bruce Hutchison for The Wall Street Journal

The East Friesland region is a bastion of tea enthusiasm in a country where coffee rules.

Germany

The East Friesland region, between Denmark and the Netherlands, is a bastion of tea enthusiasm in a country where coffee rules. East Frisians have a unique tea ceremony in which pieces of rock sugar are placed at the bottom of a cup, covered with hot black tea and topped with cream or milk poured from a special spoon. Don't stir—the layers are meant to be enjoyed as is. Simply place the spoon in your cup to signal that you're done.