Lin Yutang said, “Wherever they are, Chinese people are happy as long as they have a cup of tea.”
Tea culture in our country has a history of thousands of years. From ancient times to the present, Chinese people have had the habit of Drinking Tea. During the Tang and Song dynasties, tea tasting became one of the most popular activities.
The vessel is the father of tea. Good utensils can maximize the quality of tea and also influence the mood of the tea taster. Elegance and beauty should be the pursuit of every tea enthusiast.
So, dear tea enthusiasts, do you know the intricacies of tea ware? What should tea novices pay attention to when choosing tea ware?
01 Porcelain
Porcelain is the most common and widely inclusive material we use daily. Because porcelain is tightly compacted, it treats the flavor of tea impartially without affecting its natural aroma or taste. It can basically be used for brewing various types of tea.
Porcelain is characterized by being “as white as jade, as clear as a mirror, as resonant as a chime, and as thin as paper.” Its surface should be smooth and clean, and when illuminated by light, it should appear bright and flawless, indicating high-quality porcelain.
For blue-and-white or painted porcelain, ensure that the colors are neither too bright nor dull, neither too light nor deep: bright colors indicate over-thickness, dull colors indicate under-thickness; light colors indicate over-firing, and dark colors indicate insufficient firing.
Note the difference between overglaze and underglaze painting:
Underglaze painting has patterns beneath the glaze, with a smooth surface where the painted pigments do not come into direct contact with the tea, ensuring safety. Overglaze painting is applied on top of the glaze, creating a tactile surface, typically used for decorative purposes.
02 Earthenware
If porcelain is suitable for “releasing fragrance,” earthenware is suitable for “enhancing flavor.” Earthenware particularly enhances the character of tea, making it ideal for brewing dark teas, aged white teas, and other varieties. It's well-suited for both boiling tea and water.
Earthenware usually retains its natural color, often appearing in shades of reddish-brown, yellowish-brown, gray, etc., with little glazing.
The texture and feel are also important and require some judgment. Only by coordinating the function, texture, and color of tea ware can one select the perfect set.
Purple clay pots belong to the category of earthenware. Due to the excellent quality of their raw material, purple clay, which contains low levels of sand and strong plasticity, and because the clay contains many trace elements beneficial to the human body, they exhibit a unique molecular structure after firing, allowing air permeability without seepage. Brewing tea in them preserves the original flavor, and the longer they are used, the more lustrous and elegant they become, gradually becoming a distinctive form of art.
Look at age: Generally speaking, older pots, which have survived decades or even centuries, have high collection value. The longer they exist, the more naturally distributed “patina” forms on their surfaces, further enhancing their collection value.
Look at color: Pure purple clay, regardless of whether it is purple, yellow, red, or a combination of these colors, should have the luster of jade, becoming smoother with more polishing.
Listen to sound: Purple clay pots are the finest among Pottery, so their sound is that of pottery. After brewing tea, the sound is muffled, not sharp like metal or porcelain, indicating good breathability and the ability to preserve the aroma of tea without altering its taste.
Feel the touch: Purple clay pots should have a smooth, round, and comfortable touch.
Observe the effect of pot nurturing: Good purple clay, after a little nurturing through tea brewing and wiping with a dry cloth, will reveal a matte luster with a heavy oiliness. The longer it is nurtured, the deeper and more rustic the color becomes.
Different teas have distinct characteristics and require appropriate tea ware to bring out their best qualities fully.
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