The event was held on the occasion of the upcoming International Tea Day on May 21. In November 2022, the traditional Chinese tea processing techniques and associated social practice in China was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

"The mutual learning between the two civilizations of China and Greece, two (representatives of) ancient civilizations, is an effective way to develop together," said Ren Ren, director of the China Cultural Center in Athens.

Michalis Maniatis, a Greek artist who has traveled between Greece and China for the past two decades, told Xinhua that his home is full of tea he enjoys with his Chinese friends who have become part of his family. He loves tea for its taste, symbolism, elegance, and connection.

"Tea is a bridge between people. And I hope everybody in the West can find a way to understand that and realize that through this friendly ceremony, we can know each other and be friends forever," he said.