How we price a Chinese tea experience
A private chá dào session is unlike ordinary hospitality — it is built around the leaf, the master, and the moment. On tea.services, three tiers give you access to increasingly rare Chinese teas and deeper knowledge. The differences lie in the provenance of the teas, the seniority of the teaista, and the nuance of the ceremony.
When you book, you are not simply paying for time. The price includes the master’s preparation, the full service of the ceremony, all tea consumed during the session, and the use of carefully maintained equipment. What changes between Standard, Connoisseur, and Specialist is the calibre of those elements.
Standard tier centres on benchmark teas from well-known growing regions — a shú pǔ’ěr from Menghai, a Lóngjǐng (龙井) from Xihu in Zhejiang, a Wuyi Yán Chá (岩茶) oolong. The ceremony is led by a certified teaista trained through tea.school, and the format works equally well for small social gatherings or as an introduction to Chinese tea.
Connoisseur tier steps into rarity. You might taste a Bái Háo Yín Zhēn (白毫银针) from Fuding, harvested in the earliest flush, or a mid-aged shēng pǔ’ěr from the Bulang mountains. These sessions are run by highly experienced masters — people like Zhou Xiang, a Senior Tea Expert specialising in Hunan’s green and yellow teas, or Chen Hui Yi, whose work with white teas and delicate yinzhen is known across our network. Their commentary turns a tasting into a journey through terroir and craft.
Specialist is for collectors, brands, or establishments wanting a programme built around single-origin gǔshù (古树) material, small-factory productions, or deep regional studies. Here the master might be Fang Ting, drawing on decades with Henan and Yunnan teas to guide a bespoke cupping of several pu’er vintages. Sessions in this tier often involve pre-consultation and include written tasting notes.
The FAQ below answers the practical side: how prices are calculated per guest, what deposit secures a date, when you can cancel, and how the tiers expand when you move from a private ceremony to a full catering tea bar. For the broader booking process — including how to join the tea.services roster as a professional — see tea.community, where members discuss everything from seasonal availability to equipment choices. Deeper sourcing questions for pu’er enthusiasts are addressed on puerh.app, with its archive of factory profiles and tasting notes. Our own tea.equipment site covers the tools we supply, so you know exactly what will be on the table.
Common questions
What are the three service tiers?
Standard, Connoisseur, and Specialist. Standard uses benchmark Chinese teas and a certified teaista. Connoisseur introduces rarer leaves and a senior master. Specialist is fully bespoke — single-origin gǔshù pu’er, limited-production oolongs, or a deep-dive into a single mountain like Yiwu, led by a top-level expert such as Fang Ting.
What changes from Standard to Connoisseur to Specialist?
Three things: tea grade, master experience, and session depth. Standard teas are reliable, well-known labels; Connoisseur includes rare harvests like first-flush Bái Háo Yín Zhēn; Specialist works with private-press cakes or museum-grade leaves. The master moves from a certified practitioner to a Senior Tea Expert, and the pre‑session briefing becomes far more detailed.
How is pricing calculated — per person or per ceremony?
Both. We quote a price per person that covers all tea the group drinks and the master’s time, with a minimum number of guests per tier. The final invoice reflects the actual headcount. For example, a Connoisseur session for six guests follows a per‑guest rate; if only four attend, the minimum applies.
Is there a minimum number of guests?
Yes. Standard requires at least four guests, Connoisseur three, and Specialist two. Below those numbers, we charge the group minimum. The minimum helps us keep the experience whole — a ceremony needs a certain dynamic, and the master’s preparation is the same regardless of group size below that floor.
What teas are included in each tier?
Standard typically pours three teas: a Lóngjǐng (龙井) from Xihu, a Yán Chá (岩茶) from Wuyishan, and a shú pǔ’ěr from Menghai. Connoisseur might feature a Bái Háo Yín Zhēn (白毫银针) from Fuding, a Phoenix dancong, and an aged shēng pǔ’ěr. Specialist draws from the master’s private collection — often single-origin gǔshù material from Lincang or Yiwu.
Which masters lead each tier?
Standard ceremonies are led by teaistas certified through tea.school. Connoisseur sessions are run by Senior Tea Experts such as Zhou Xiang (Hunan greens, yellow teas) or Chen Hui Yi (white teas, yinzhen). Specialist bookings place you with a top-level master like Fang Ting, whose expertise spans oolong, green, and pu-erh varieties.
Can I request a specific master from the roster?
Yes, on the booking form you may name a preferred master. For Connoisseur and Specialist tiers, we will match your request with availability. If the master is travelling for another engagement, we suggest a colleague of equal seniority. We always confirm the final teaista before you pay the deposit.
What is the deposit and when is it refundable?
We ask for a 25% deposit to secure the date. It is fully refundable if you cancel up to 7 days before the ceremony. Cancellations between 7 and 2 days retain 50% of the deposit. Within 48 hours, the deposit is non‑refundable because the master has already prepared.
What notice do I need to give for booking?
We recommend 14 days’ notice for Standard and 21 days for Connoisseur or Specialist. Last‑minute requests are possible depending on master availability, but the teas and travel arrangements are harder to guarantee at short notice. For Specialist, at least 21 days is preferred.
Can I add a tea-pairing session to a private ceremony?
Yes. In the scope builder you can add a pairing consult where the master will select small foods — Sichuan peppercorn crackers, osmanthus cake, or lotus-seed paste — to highlight a tea’s texture. This service adds a flat fee per guest and is most popular in Connoisseur and Specialist tiers.
Are travel costs for the master included?
Travel within the same city is included in the per‑guest price. For sessions outside the master’s home city, we quote a separate travel and accommodation add‑on. We always itemise this before you commit, and for specialist trips the master’s transport is handled through our partner tea.travel.
What equipment is provided — do I need to prepare anything?
We bring everything: a portable tea table, gaiwan or Yixing pot, fairness pitcher, cups, kettle, and water. All you need is a flat surface and access to electricity. For catering events over 50 guests, we discuss power and water logistics in advance. Details of the tools we use are on tea.equipment.
Can the ceremony be tailored to specific tea types, e.g., only pu’er?
Certainly. In the booking notes you can specify a focus — all pu’er, all oolong, or a vertical tasting of three shēng pǔ’ěr from different years. The master will adjust the flow and commentary. This customisation is included at no extra cost for Specialist tier, and available as an add‑on for Connoisseur.
How does the catering tier differ from a private ceremony?
Catering is designed for events of 50 guests or more. Instead of a seated ceremony, we set up a tea bar where masters brew continuously, guests come and go, and we pair with a broader menu. Pricing is per head for the tea service, with a fixed setup fee. The menu is built around easy‑drinking Chinese teas like a clean Tieguanyin or a gentle aged white.
Can I book a cupping panel for a new tea product?
Yes, cupping panels are a standalone service for brands. A panel of at least two senior masters will blind‑taste your samples, document aroma, liquor colour, mouthfeel, and aftertaste using a standardised wheel, and deliver a written report. Bookings start from a half‑day session; deposit terms are the same 25% with 7‑day refund window.
Still have questions?
Pricing and tiers are designed to be transparent, but every event is unique. If you do not see your scenario covered here, write to services@tea.services — our bookings team can walk through a custom quote or connect you with the right master for your needs. For those curious about the broader tea culture that underpins these ceremonies, tea.community hosts discussions on everything from seasonality to master training, while tea.events lists the public tea gatherings that often inspire private bookings. If you are a professional looking to join the tea.services roster, the application pathway starts at tea.school, where you can verify certification requirements and upcoming examination dates.