Gaiwancha is a unique way of drinking tea in the northwest Hui nationality. It is said that it began in the Tang Dynasty and has been passed down to this day, which is very popular among Hui people. Covered tea consists of three parts: tray, tea bowl and tea cover, so it is called "three batteries". Every hot summer, Gaiwancha becomes the best thirst-quenching drink for Hui people. In the cold winter, Hui people who are slack in farming get up in the morning, sit around the fire, bake a few pieces of steamed buns, or eat some dumplings, and never forget to scrape a few cups of tea.

Hui people also regard Gaiwancha as a good treat for guests. Whenever Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, weddings and other festive activities, when guests come to the house, the enthusiastic host will hand you a cup of Gaiwancha and serve you prickly heat, dried fruits and so on, so that you can have tea. There are many rituals when offering tea, that is, opening the bowl cover in front of the guests, putting it into the tea material, flushing it with water, and holding it with both hands. This shows that this cup of tea is specially made for guests to show respect. If there are more guests at home, the host will give the tea to the host and guest according to their age, seniority and identity.

When drinking a covered bowl of tea, you can't take off the lid on it, and you can't blow the tea floating on it with your mouth. Instead, you can pick up the tea bowl tray with your left hand, grab the lid with your right hand, and gently "scrape" it a few times. Its function is to decant the floating tea and other things, and the second is to promote the melting of rock sugar. Scraping the lid is very particular, one is sweet, the other is fragrant, and the third is tea dew to become clear soup. After each shave, tilt the lid of the tea and suck it with your mouth. You can't swallow the small handlebars one after another, and you can't gasp and suck at the tea bowl. You should drink it slowly. When the host offers tea, the guests are generally not polite, let alone not drink the tea served, which will be considered as impolite and disrespectful to the host.