Teaware

Tea culture has a long history in China, with records of tea dating back to ancient times. Not only that, but there is also a significant emphasis on tea utensils, which are not chosen haphazardly. Even a simple teacup has its own unique considerations. So, how much do you know about Chinese tea culture and the various tea utensils used for brewing? The utensils for brewing tea can be categorized as follows: 1. Yixing clay (purple clay) tea utensils are both elegant and resonant. This type of material has been used for several hundred years and is characterized by a dual-pore structure, giving it strong adsorption capabilities. When used for brewing tea, it enhances the color, aroma, and flavor of the tea. 2. Porcelain and ceramic tea utensils are both delicate and substantial. These utensils are moderately priced and therefore make up a large proportion of all tea utensils. They come in various types such as celadon, fine earthenware, and colored pottery. 3. Artistic tea utensils are both innovative and exquisite. In recent years, the enthusiasm for art pieces has not diminished; instead, it has become increasingly popular. Consequently, artistic tea utensils have emerged and have been well-received. The above…

      1. Try to avoid dry burning. Do not heat the kettle when there is no water in it. Repeated and continuous dry burning will shorten the lifespan of the iron kettle and may even cause it to crack. 2. Prevent large temperature differences. A large temperature difference refers to a significant difference between the temperature of the kettle body and the water temperature. For example, adding hot water to a cold kettle or pouring cold water into a hot kettle. In such cases, there is a risk of cracking the kettle. A better approach is to alternate the use of two or more iron kettles. When you only have one kettle, you can replenish the water inside by adding hot water. 3. Keep the iron kettle dry. If there is still moisture left inside the kettle after use, it can easily rust. Therefore, you should use the residual heat from the kettle and stove to evaporate any remaining water inside, ensuring that the kettle stays dry.

If conditions permit, consider the following types of purple clay teapots: Clay: Purple clay, red clay, slope mud, etc. Pot shape: Large belly (considering that Yunnan black tea leaves are relatively large) Capacity: Over 200 milliliters Black tea is a fully fermented tea made from new shoots of appropriate tea trees, processed through withering, rolling (cutting), fermentation, and drying. Drinking it regularly not only aids digestion but also nourishes and protects the stomach, making it very suitable for winter consumption. Some people are casual about their tea drinking and will brew black tea in any cup, while others are more particular and use a purple clay teapot to enhance the lingering aroma of the black tea. Not all purple clay teapots are suitable for brewing black tea. Firstly, black tea is named for the red color of its tea soup and leaf base when brewed. Due to the dark color of the tea soup, clays such as purple clay, bottom groove green, clear purple clay, and sky blue clay are suitable. You can choose darker colored clays. If using original green or duan mud, be sure to clean them promptly to avoid unsightly tea stains. The color of the purple…

When creating a beautiful piece, the more variables involved, the weaker the human control becomes. However, luck always stands by every craftsman who truly invests their life and wisdom in it. As long as you have sufficient accumulation and patience, fine works will naturally emerge. Shoe firing ceramics are both man-made and reliant on nature, a collaboration between heaven and humanity, with its wonders lying within. Shoe firing refers to the production of ceramic wares using wood as fuel. This is an ancient technique with a high degree of difficulty, where the success or failure of the work depends on the relationship between clay, fire, wood, and kiln. Returning to nature, the fusion of fire, earth, and ash gives rise to a natural, thick, and primitive beauty. Shoe firing seeks the natural combination of wood ashes and earth, not bound by formal aesthetics, but rather without any artificial embellishment. The beauty of simplicity is attached to everything, and only in the formless yet shaped shoe-fired ware can one touch the soul. Shoe firing is mainly divided into two categories: glazed (base glaze) and unglazed (natural glaze). For example, Song Dynasty Tenmoku bowls and celadon glazes are glazed, while Bizen-yaki from…

Embrace the Magic of Flower Tea Flower tea is not just a beverage, it's a way of life. Whether you're seeking relaxation or simply enjoying its taste, brewing a cup of flower tea is a delight. Here, we will detail how to brew flower tea correctly so that you can enjoy a perfect cup every time. Select High-Quality Flower Tea Ingredients To brew a delicious cup of flower tea, you must start with high-quality ingredients. Whether it's rose, jasmine, or chrysanthemum tea, choose those with bright colors, intact petals, and rich fragrance. This ensures both great taste and additional health benefits. Prepare Suitable Water Quality and Temperature The quality of water used for brewing flower tea is crucial. It's best to use purified or mineral water to avoid the chlorine and impurities found in tap water, which can affect the taste of the tea. Water temperature is also key; different types of flower tea require varying temperatures. Generally, the ideal brewing temperature for flower tea is between 80°C and 90°C, ensuring the aroma and nutrients are preserved without being damaged. (Image source: Internet. Please delete if infringement occurs.) Master the Proper Amount of Tea Leaves The amount of tea leaves…

 It is often said that nurturing a purple clay teapot requires dedication. But how should one go about it? And where to begin? Here are seven aspects, commonly referred to as the "Seven Hearts" of teapot care. Happy Heart: Treat it as an interest in your life. It can enrich your free time and help you learn more about Chinese traditional culture. Approach the art of purple clay with a positive attitude, leading a simple yet fulfilling life. Cautious Heart: Be mindful to prevent knocks and bumps. Purple clay teapots are valuable, and any damage can significantly decrease their worth. Besides the financial loss, seeing a damaged teapot, even after repair, can be distressing. Calm Heart: Avoid being hasty or impatient. One day external care, the next internal care, one day Oolong tea, the next black tea, will not yield good results. Personally, I believe that nurturing a teapot is a process, the main focus being on enjoying the experience and the sense of achievement as the teapot changes. Ordinary Heart: No matter its value, every purple clay teapot has practical use. Do not neglect a less expensive pot, treating it casually. Purple clay, even if abundant, is a non-renewable…

The mesh size of the purple clay used in Jianshui pottery is much higher than that of other types of ceramics, usually over 200 mesh and can even reach over 300 mesh. Works made from such finely textured clay have many distinctive features in both craftsmanship and finished products. The foundation of unglazed polishing is fine clay. If the clay has a low mesh size or a grainy feel, it is unsuitable for unglazed polishing. The clay used in Jianshui pottery exceeds 200 mesh and is as fine as ointment. Those who have handled Jianshui purple pottery can personally experience the feeling of touching the surface of a clay pot, which is smooth like jade with no graininess at all. This is why Jianshui pottery can be polished to a luster as smooth as jade and even shiny enough to reflect light. Fine clay offers greater plasticity. Carving and filling on wet clay while preserving the essence of calligraphy and painting is one of the most unique aspects of Jianshui purple pottery. The reason why it's possible to paint, engrave patterns, and fill the clay (multiple times) on wet clay without damaging the body and achieve a high degree of…

An object, originally just an object, but after being nourished by its owner for a long time, it can better blend with the owner's temperament, and thus gains a spirit. A Yixing clay teapot is such an object. As a popular brewing tool across the country, the goodness of a Yixing clay teapot can be summed up in six words: Easy to start with, and easy to maintain. 01 Easy to start with Even newcomers to the tea world can use it to brew tea that achieves a wonderful aroma, flavor, and appearance. 02 Easy to maintain This is shown by the noticeable changes over daily use as it matures and becomes increasingly "new". But do you really know how to “use” it? Before we talk about using it, let's first discuss Yixing clay. The common types of Yixing clay on the market can be roughly divided into: purple clay, red clay, and duan clay (segmented clay). Although Yixing clay has two contradictory properties—thermal insulation and breathability—the breathability of different types of Yixing clay actually varies. Duan clay has the best breathability, followed by purple clay, and lastly red clay. Because of its unique "double-pore structure", many enthusiasts have begun…

The tea of the Song Dynasty favored white, while the tea wares were revered for their black-glazed bowls, unique in history. Silver-threaded hare's fur, shimmering with brilliance; paper-cut decorations, vivid and lifelike; partridge splashed, with spots that change in light. The clear black and white contrast between the black-glazed bowl and the tea highlights the beauty of the foam. The Song Dynasty revered Daoism, and the white tea in black vessels embodied the principles of Yin and Yang. The Jian kiln, located in the area of Houjing and Chizhong Village, Shuigai Town, Jianyang County, Fujian Province, is renowned for its production of black porcelain. The Jian kiln was one of the major kilns during the Song Dynasty, initially established in the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, primarily producing celadon. By the Song Dynasty, a cluster of kilns emerged in Jianyang, with 99 long dragon kilns, producing a large quantity of black porcelain. Jian ware can be categorized into six main types based on the glaze patterns: Ujim (dark blue-black), hare's fur, oil spot, partridge, iridescent, and miscellaneous colors. Hare's Fur Bowl A hare's fur bowl features fine brownish-yellow or rust-colored thread-like streaks on a black glaze surface, resembling hare's…

 Savoring tea is a form of enjoyment and an art of living. The teapot, for the tea connoisseur, is the cradle that nurtures the tea leaves. It endures hardship and toil, silently holding and developing the aroma and flavor of the tea – this is both the task and spirit of a teapot. When selecting a teapot, one should not be confined to narrow considerations. After all, valuing rarity or prestige is more suited to antique collectors or experts. Generally speaking, a new teapot that meets basic criteria, if properly maintained and adept at developing aroma and flavor, is sufficient. Therefore, whether ancient or modern, a good teapot is always desirable. The teapot is the centerpiece of tea ware, and the focus of the tea brewing process that most influences personal experience. Thus, whether in selecting or maintaining a teapot, proper methods must be followed. This article lists seven key principles for selecting a teapot for your consideration. These are: aesthetics, material quality, pot flavor, precision, water pouring, balance, and suitability. Here they are: I. Aesthetics Everyone has different tastes when it comes to aesthetics. The aesthetics referred to here primarily concern personal preference. For the shape and appearance of…

The Southern Song Dynasty: Zhou Jichang, Lin Tinggui, et al., “Arhats Drinking Tea” Have you watched the recent hit Song Dynasty drama, "Dream of the Red Chamber"? Actress Liu Yifei plays the lead character Zhao Pan'er, who is the owner of Zhao's Teahouse and stuns viewers with her fluid tea preparation skills in her first appearance. From a tea enthusiast's perspective, the most captivating aspect of "Dream of the Red Chamber" is its portrayal of "tea culture," filled with ancient charm and texture, with tea utensils and tea-making techniques largely true to Song Dynasty style. Let’s now appreciate the exquisite saucers used by ancient people for drinking tea. In the Song Dynasty, tea was prepared by "beating and stirring" using a tea whisk to stir and strike the tea broth; saucers were designed to prevent scalding hands. Southern Song to Yuan Dynasty: Gilt Silver Flower and Bird Patterned Tea Saucer and Saucer – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA Collection Ruyao Porcelain Northern Song Dynasty: Ruyao Sky Blue Glazed Paulownia Petal Shaped Saucer – British Museum Collection Guan Porcelain Song Dynasty: Guan Porcelain Celadon Saucer – Palace Museum Southern Song Dynasty Guan Porcelain Saucer - Excavated from the Southern Song…

It's often said that a woman who drinks tea has a certain charm. And a woman who enjoys drinking tea from a Yixing clay pot possesses a natural, refreshing, and perfectly balanced beauty. Today, I'll introduce ten styles of teapots that are particularly favored by women. 01 Xi Shi (Doll) Teapot The Xi Shi teapot has a plump and adorable shape with graceful curves. The flush-fitting lid makes the entire form appear unified, making it perfect for handling. As one of the four great beauties of ancient China, the name Xi Shi naturally evokes associations of beauty, elegance, and nobility. As the saying goes: Beautiful is the Xi Shi, but the most wonderful is the Xi Shi teapot. 02 Beauty's Shoulder Teapot The Beauty's Shoulder teapot resembles an elegant and lovely ancient Chinese woman, exuding imperial splendor while also possessing the grace of a young lady. The design is full and dignified, with the main focus on the roundness of the body. The lid blends seamlessly with the body, and the teapot feels warm and smooth to the touch. 03 Smiling Cherry Teapot The Smiling Cherry teapot, originally named the Three-Line teapot, draws inspiration from ancient ceramic tea storage jars…

Simplicity without monotony, the tea ware, complemented by dried flowers, bamboo baskets, and mats, evokes a Japanese sense of Zen aesthetics. It turns out that the details of life can be so beautiful! Recently, many ceramic artists in Dehua have been drawing inspiration from aesthetic principles in Taiwan and Japan. Using their skills in glaze color blending, they create simple yet distinctive works of art. These are both artistic expressions of urban slow living and practical items, becoming popular home decor items on the market. Cultural and Creative Design Enhances Ceramic Quality The tactile sensation of cotton and linen, a water-resistant fabric dyed with natural plant dyes from Taiwan draped over a table, paired with a set of square, simply designed yellow tea ware (Fig. 1), and a finely crafted bamboo mat, the rustic and natural aesthetics created by Dehua's ceramic artists seem to come naturally. "The natural feel of cotton and linen or bamboo mats creates an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity in the Zen space." Square and minimalist yellow tea ware (Fig. 1) In the Zhengyu Art Ceramic Exhibition Hall in Dehua, reporters see sets of tea ware embodying Zen aesthetics carefully arranged on display tables. Seeing this…

Chinese people have been drinking tea for several thousand years. As a common beverage in daily life, tea has a fresh and elegant flavor that can quench thirst as well as promote health, making it a favorite of many. While everyone loves to drink it, not everyone knows how to correctly choose a container for brewing tea. Brewing tea requires the right container. In addition to good tea and good water, the right vessel is also essential. In daily life, the choice of what teaware to use depends on the type of tea, the number of people, and local tea-drinking customs. Green tea: Fine and precious green teas such as West Lake Longjing, Dongting Biluochun, Junshan Silver Needle, and Huangshan Maofeng are best brewed in transparent glass cups, which allow you to observe the slow unfolding, movement, and transformation of the leaves in the water—a process known as "tea dance." Second- and third-grade stir-fried green teas, pearl tea, and baked green teas are mainly enjoyed for their taste or to quench thirst and can be brewed in porcelain cups. Lower-grade green teas contain more fiber, are more durable when steeped, and have a stronger flavor, making them suitable for brewing…

Zhuni teapots, mostly small in size, are adorable and thus widely loved by teapot enthusiasts. However, due to the relatively low reserves of zhuni, high-quality zhuni is rather rare and precious, making it a common target for clay counterfeiting. Genuine Zhuni West Lake Lady Teapot So how can one buy authentic, genuine zhuni? Please read on. The classification of genuine zhuni generally divides it into three types: Huanglong Mountain Zhuni, Small Coal Mine Zhuni, and Zhaozhuang Zhuni. 1. Huanglong Mountain Zhuni is a thin layer of oily clay found between the top yellow stone and purple clay deposits. After firing, it appears unpolished and lusterless, with an orange-red color. 2. The Small Coal Mine area is abundant in zhuni production, with the largest output. When fired, its color is bright and vivid. 3. Zhaozhuang is famous for producing red clay. Zhaozhuang Zhuni is the fatty clay found between rotten yellow stone and red clay deposits, which is also scarce. After firing, its color is dark red. Genuine vs. Fake Zhuni Genuine zhuni comes in only one form: Zhuni raw stone is weathered and then sieved through a screen of a certain mesh size, water is added, and it is mixed…

Recently, a friend was sorting through a purple clay teapot he bought years ago and got quite a shock – the bottom of one teapot had developed a crack. It was in perfect condition when last used, but after being stored for several years, it had cracked. He couldn’t figure out why. It’s truly heartbreaking when a purple clay teapot cracks, especially if it’s an expensive one. Once a crack appears, its value drops significantly. So, why do teapots crack? Here are some possible reasons: 1. Improper Use In addition to issues with craftsmanship, improper handling by the user can also cause cracks. Common causes include damage from bumps or knocks (sometimes these hidden injuries go unnoticed) that later lead to the teapot cracking during use. Leaving a purple clay teapot exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods can also result in cracks. Teapots can also crack due to sudden temperature changes or uneven heating and cooling. For example, in cold environments, some teapot enthusiasts don’t have the habit of warming their teapots before use. If they pour boiling water directly into a cold teapot, it may crack. Particularly important is the case where a teapot has been unused for…

Often, newcomers will ask, "Is this Duan clay teapot a purple clay teapot?" This may be because they have just started to learn about purple clay teapots and do not understand the meaning of purple clay materials, assuming that Duan clay is not a type of purple clay. Purple clay materials are broadly divided into three categories: Purple Clay, Duan Clay, and Red Clay. The Purple Clay category can be further subdivided into: Bottom Groove Clear, Middle Groove Clear, Pure Purple Clay, Old Purple Clay, etc. Under the Duan Clay category, we can find: Original Mountain Duan, Original Mountain Green Clay, Golden Duan, Old Duan, Blue Duan, etc. The Red Clay category includes: Small Red Clay, Zhu (Imperial Red) Clay, Dahongpao (Big Red Robe), etc. One might then ask: Is Purple Clay better than Duan Clay or Zhu (Imperial Red) Clay? The quality of a purple clay teapot does not have an absolute relationship with its clay material; it depends instead on its craftsmanship and the beauty of its shape. If all the materials come from the original mine, there is no simple distinction between good and bad among Purple Clay, Duan Clay, and Zhu (Imperial Red) Clay. Instead, different…

 The vessel is the father of tea. There are many considerations when it comes to choosing tea ware. Selecting the right set of tea ware is crucial for brewing a good pot of tea. So, tea-loving Chao-Shan friends, here are some tea ware basics you need to know. 1. The coarseness or fineness of the vessel's material is directly proportional to the degree of fermentation and age of the tea The less fermented the tea, the finer the material of the vessel should be. For example, green tea can be brewed in celadon or glassware, oolong in finer clay-based purple sand, and dark tea in coarse stoneware or coarser clay-based purple sand. The finer the material, the easier it is to bring out the warmth and smoothness of less fermented or unfermented teas. 2. The height of the vessel is directly proportional to the age of the tea In principle, the older the tea, the less it is affected by steeping, so a taller and deeper vessel can be chosen. Vessels like the Qin Quan or Han Duo in purple sand can effectively draw out the character of older teas. For delicate teas, lidless or shallow vessels are more suitable…

Tea enthusiasts may have had the experience of buying a variety of cups when they first started learning about tea, such as bell-shaped cups, heart-shaped cups, slim-waist cups, blue-and-white thin porcelain, Ru kiln pieces with crackle glaze, Tenmoku bowls… Tea ware provides a direct sense of beauty, a form of aesthetic that can be touched by the senses, and so many tea lovers are connoisseurs of tea ware. If they find you kindred in spirit, they could tell you all about the history and origin of their tea cups in great detail. The appreciation of tea ware is similar to drinking tea, requiring careful savoring and discernment to notice subtle changes and discover finer beauty... Initially, I was fond of polychrome ware due to its rich colors that easily attract attention. Over time, however, I found that understated green tea ware is also appealing, as it endures solitude and becomes more flavorful with use. It can be paired with any type of tea, and the empty spaces give us room for imagination, resonating with the essence of tea. Gradually, from chance encounters with cups, I began to desire to own my own cup and embarked on the journey of "nourishing"…

Tea can be boiled, savored, drunk, or poured. The various actions associated with tea reflect the myriad facets of human life. It is said that a Japanese scholar approached Lin Qingxuan to seek his insights into China's profound tea culture, only to find him idly seated in a recliner, holding a delicate small pot and sipping directly from it, without using a cup, in an unboundedly relaxed manner. The scholar was surprised. Could it be done this way? Unfortunately, Lin Qingxuan did not tell him that there is a way of tea but no rigid rules. As long as the tea is willing and I am willing, what else is there that cannot be done? "Sipping alone," in my view, is the ultimate enjoyment of drinking tea. With flower shadows at the door and a cool breeze under the veranda, holding a pot of fine tea, pouring all kinds of emotions into one's heart. Cherishing oneself, drinking alone, and opening one's heart freely, without joy, without restraint, without hindrance—this is how a true scholar drinks. Drinking tea, in the end, is something that brings pleasure to oneself. From the same pot of tea, Buddhists see Zen, Daoists see qi, Confucians…

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…

When we talk about purple clay, our first impression is likely to be that most iconic object – the purple clay teapot. Elegant and refined, delicately beautiful, they seem to belong exclusively to scholars and gentlemen. Only in their hands can purple clay transcend the ordinary and emit its unique charm. The origin of purple clay is hard to trace, but it is generally believed by modern people that it gained popularity during the Ming Dynasty. Taking Yixing purple clay as a representative, over several hundred years, the production of purple clay has undergone countless transformations. In terms of shape, temperament, color, and spirit, it exudes an irresistible aura of scholarly grace. As a container, it lacks the luster of pottery and the sharpness of porcelain. It is formed using various components including red clay and purple clay, then fired, resulting in a smooth texture. Carving elegant and rustic poetry and images onto the surface of the purple clay enhances its appearance, blending form and function perfectly. High-quality purple clay teapots even appear semi-transparent when light shines through them. Moreover, tea made in vessels crafted from this material allows one to savor the original flavor of the tea without alteration.…

Before officially using the purple clay pot to steep tea, it is advisable to perform a simple treatment on the pot — one to clean its inside and outside, and two to remove any impurities absorbed during the manufacturing, storage, transportation, etc.A simpler method involves merely rinsing the pot repeatedly with boiling water before use. A more complex method involves placing the pot in a clean, oil-free pot with pure water to boil, or adding a small amount of tea to simmer the pot over low heat, then rinse and use. However, locals from Yixing generally just rinse the new pot clean and steep some tea in it before using it.If you buy a pot at a tea market, some pots may have already been used by the seller or even seasoned, and such pots can be used after a simple rinse and cleaning.Nourishing the PotRegardless of whether the pot is new or old, after steeping tea with boiling water, take advantage of the higher surface temperature of the pot to wipe it with a damp towel or clean damp cloth. Wipe away the water marks immediately, keeping the pot clean.In the process of nurturing the pot, most people do…

Chinese people love to serve tea to their guests. Serving tea upon entry has three meanings: first, it shows the host's respect for the guest, as there is a sense of courtesy in the tea; second, it demonstrates the host's hospitality, with the friendship between host and guest and the goodwill towards the guest all contained in this cup of tea; third, it helps to adjust the atmosphere so that neither the host nor the guest feels awkward or constrained. Serving and drinking tea actually carries a psychological aspect of mutual communication. Etiquette comes first in everything, and serving tea to guests is no exception. How should teacups and teapot be placed? 1. The process of placing the teapot and cups should be orderly, balanced left and right, and unobstructed as much as possible; 2. If there must be an obstruction, arrange items from lowest to highest, placing shorter items like cups in front of the guest's line of sight; 3. To show respect to the guest, the spout of the teapot should not face the guest, and any patterns on the teapot and cups should be directed towards the guest, placed neatly. The teapot spout should not face the…