Tea-drinking in China has changed with the times. Originally, tea was boiled like a medicinal herb and drunk like a soup, leaves and all. It was only in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that people began to steep the leaves. The small cups and pots commonly used in Taiwan--the "kung-fu tea" method of drinking--date from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 in mainland China, 1683-1895 in Taiwan).
──（吃茶去・民初佛教居士趙樸初）中國飲茶的方式隨時代演進而有所不同，從最早類似草藥烹煮方式、連湯帶葉服用，到明朝開始採沖泡方式飲茶，至於台灣以小壺小杯沖泡、俗稱「功夫茶」的品飲方式，則始自清代。