Drinking tea is an integral part of Chinese weddings much like the toasting of champagne in the Western wedding tradition. Tea is China's national drink and serving it is a sign of respect. Using tea is practical too because not everyone can drink alcohol.

In tea, they use lotus seeds and two red dates. It is done for two reasons. First the words "lotus" and "year", "seed" and "child", and "date" and "early", are homophones, i.e. they have the same sound but different meanings in Chinese. Secondly, ancient Chinese believed that using these in the tea would help the newlyweds produce children early in their marriage and every year. Besides these two, the other reason is the sweetness of the special tea is a wish for sweet relations between the bride and her new family.

On the wedding day, the bride serves tea to her parents at home before the groom arrives. She does this out of respect and to thank her parents for raising her. The tea at this time does not need to have the lotus seeds or dates. The bride pours and serves the tea by herself without the groom.

After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds serve tea to the parents and grandparents. The couple is being helped by the helpers, who are usually women blessed with a happy marriage or wealth. These helpers are chosen by the fortune teller or bride's mother. The general rule of serving the tea is with woman on the left and man on the right side. Like, while serving the bride would kneel in front of her father-in-law while the groom in front of his mother. Tea is being served in order starting with the groom's parents then proceeding from the oldest family members to the youngest.

While serving tea, the newlyweds receive lucky red envelopes, called as "lai see" meaning "lucky", with money or jewelry inside it. The helpers also get lucky red envelopes stuffed with money from those being served. These envelopes are placed on the platter which holds the cups.