Glass, known to ancient people as liuli or lusili, is actually a colored, semi-transparent Mineral. Tea wares made from this material give people a vivid and radiant feeling due to their bright colors and lustrous shine.
The technique of making liuli in China started early, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty that with the increase in cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries and the continuous introduction of Western liuli wares into China, did the country begin to produce liuli tea wares. The plain, footed, light yellow liuli tea Cup and the plain light yellow liuli tea saucer unearthed from the Famen Temple's underground palace in Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province, which were offered by Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty, are genuine Chinese liuli tea wares. Although their shapes are primitive, decorations simple, texture appears mixed, and transparency is low, they indicate that Chinese liuli tea wares had already emerged during the Tang Dynasty and were considered precious at the time.
In modern times, with the rise of the glass industry, glass tea wares quickly became popular. This is because glass is transparent, lustrous, and highly moldable, so the tea wares made from it come in various shapes and have wide applications. In addition, they are inexpensive, easy to purchase, and thus have been well-received by tea enthusiasts.
