Hot Tea

Never understood the point of turning something trivial in a protracted ritual. Just check for alpha radiation and drink, time is not made of rubber.

@comrade_Comrade Is radioactive tea a common hazard in Russia?

(I'm assuming you're joking, of course)

'@VictorMortimer' "Is radioactive tea a common hazard in Russia?" Not really, unless you've escaped to London and giving away all sorts of sensitive information.

@comrade_Comrade Fine black humor. Well done.

'@comrade'_Comrade The ability to restrain yourself is incredibly important in a violent culture. Japanese tea cups are intentionally fragile for this reason.

'@Joggar' if you want to be serious, food-related rules that are complicated and not religious or sanitary in nature are more likely to be a way to distinguish social class. Nobility was only upper and middle managers of violence, I don't think that people who did the actual killing were known for their manners.

'@comrade'_Comrade They kind of were, and it was common in a *lot* of feudal cultures. The ritual of the "loving cup" included various steps meant to keep both hands busy so neither party could throw a punch. I bet there's plenty in Russian history that have simply fallen by the wayside in the last 1-6 centuries.

'@boring7' when Mark Twain wrote about that cup, he missed the obvious: if you have a heavy cup that you need to hold with both hands, you don't need to stab or throw a punch - just use the cup to split the other guy's skull. Finnegan's wake in reverse.

The thing that didn't fall by the wayside of Russian history is long tradition of mass fistfights as a folk entertainment. Restraint there is demonstrated by not hitting anyone in the face or groin, and not kicking people while they're down.

'@comrade'_Comrade You mean the... Samurai?

'@Joggar' yeah. There is some variation throughout the history, but samurai were first and foremost feudal land owners and administrators who didn't have to fight often or at all. Even when they went to war, they would bring conscripted peasants with them. Just like with knights, popular attention is directed towards single combat using swords, when in fact most of the work was done by foot soldiers with spears and bows.
If you want an example of really violent groups of people, Swiss and German mercenaries of 15-16th centuries would be a better fit.

As for fragile cups, you can look up what "eggshell" or bone porcelain is. Thin-walled ceramic cups are difficult to make and would be more rare and expensive status symbols, particularly in pre-industrial times.

@comrade_Comrade
Being unable to understand traditions of another nation doesn't give you the right to mock them. Asian cultures believe in internal peace and those ceremonies are not just consuming something. They are also respect to others.
But I assume you cannot know that since you send bombs to innocent people.

@comrade_Comrade Maybe they want to spend their time enjoying their tea ceremony. Not everyone has to spend their time the way you deem appropriate--that's the beauty of us all being individuals on this earth

Ok China is actually really cute and funny in this one

Japan has some weird things but even this he's like wtf?

I think that pokemon is a chinese regional evolution in the poliwag line.

What exactly is a tea pet?

@MooseFace it looks like a frog

@MooseFace Tea pets are like these clay figurines usually made of clay usually the same materials as as or similar to the purple clay pots and you pour the leftover remains of your tea on them once it's cold and are gross to drink. I know if some people that also pour the first round of tea over them too since its considered "weak" and not worth serving (i don't but I like weaker tea lol). Basically they're very cute (I've got a sleeping Huli jing (9-tail fox) myself) and they over time start to keep the fragrance of the tea due to the clay properties. (that's why china is pouring tea over the pot in the first, place, it's really only specific pots like the purple clay ones that are worth that time), otherwise china is usually wAAAY more chill on the tea ceremony. it's kinda more like the west's High/afternooon tea than a specifically set out ritual and setting like japan's)

@fossal High/afternoon tea is pretty much British custom only

I love the expression on the tea pets face I hope it becomes a reoccurring character like the beer ghost.

For some reason I think that China is going to eat this frog after all. Although maybe he`ll do it with France : )

@ThelastDragon Good idea, we only eat the frog's legs, and it's very good

If Japan can't identify a Pokemon that is serious business

omg tea pets are the best! I love feeding mine lol XD

Glad I don't drink flowerpot water.
Only coffee for me.

Reminds me of the tea strip with Ireland and England. Just waiting for Ireland to show up and eat the whole tea pot in front of them!