China has a long history of tea drinking. Each dynasty and region has its own unique customs, and there are many types of tea sets. Classified by material, they include clay tea sets, porcelain tea sets, bamboo and wood tea sets, stone tea sets, etc. Let’s take a look!
01 Clay Tea Sets
Representative: Yixing Purple Clay Tea Sets
Suitable Teas: Oolong Tea, Pu-erh Tea
Characteristics: Clay tea sets neither overpower the true aroma of tea nor have the smell of overcooked soup.
02 Porcelain Tea Sets
Representative: Jingdezhen Porcelain, Dehua White Porcelain, Longquan Celadon, etc.
Suitable Teas: Suitable for all kinds of teas
Characteristics: Porcelain emerged after pottery and is famous for its smooth and delicate surface and elegant shape. It is made from raw materials such as kaolin, quartz, and feldspar. It has a compact texture, doesn’t absorb water or flavors, and can present the original flavor of tea. The patterns on it are beautiful and generous, with high artistic and ornamental value. Moreover, porcelain has a hard texture and a long service life, making it one of the essential tea sets on the tea table of every tea lover.
03 Lacquer Tea Sets
Representative: Fujian Lacquerware
Characteristics: Lacquer tea sets have a long history of use. They are made by mixing the required pigments into the sap of the lacquer tree and then applying it to the utensils. They have a light texture, elegant appearance, and bright luster, with high artistic value and are often collected by collectors. Lacquerware can withstand temperature changes and acid-base erosion, is waterproof, fade-resistant, and non-deformable, with good durability.
04 Glass Tea Sets
Recommended Teas: Green Tea, Flower Tea, Fruit Tea
Characteristics: In ancient times, glass was called liuli. It has bright colors and is dazzling. When making tea with glass tea sets, the tea set is crystal clear, allowing you to observe the tea leaves unfolding in the water and the color change of the tea soup, which is very interesting. Glass is heat-resistant, easy to clean, has stable performance, and doesn’t easily absorb the tea flavor. In addition, glass tea sets are inexpensive and of good quality, making them very popular among consumers.
05 Metal Tea Sets
Representative: Iron Pots, Silver Pots, Copper Pots, Tin Cans
Recommended Teas: Green Tea, Pu-erh, etc.
Characteristics: Metal utensils are one of the oldest daily utensils in China. When used as a teapot to boil water, they are heat-resistant and have fast heat conduction. Making tea with them helps enhance the aroma and has certain health care effects. When used as a tea storage can, they have good moisture-proof, light-proof, and odor-proof properties, which is more conducive to tea storage.
06 Enamel Tea Sets
Almost every family has seen enamel tea sets to some extent when they were kids. They can be regarded as representatives of nostalgic items.
Characteristics: Enamel tea sets are sturdy and durable, with clear patterns, light weight, and corrosion resistance. They are beautiful and come in a variety of colors and patterns, with colorful and changeable enamel colors. Using enamel tea sets is clean and hygienic, rust-proof, and very durable, with good acid and alkali corrosion resistance.
Bamboo and wooden tea sets, sourced from nature, are convenient to make and have always been popular among tea enthusiasts. However, they are prone to deformation and cannot be used for extended periods. Modern uses are mainly seen in tea ceremony sets and tea boats. It wasn’t until the Qing Dynasty that a unique type of bamboo tea set emerged in Sichuan, known as ‘Bamboo Weaving with Porcelain’. This requires skilled craftsmen to create, serving as both an art piece and a practical item, with main varieties including tea cups, pots, and lidded bowls.
Stone tea sets have a distinctive charm and hold a place in traditional culture. They are characterized by their high hardness and natural color. They do not deform, crack, fade, or absorb water when exposed to heat or cold, and after polishing, they do not absorb tea stains, making them highly durable and practical. Common varieties include stone tea trays, lidded bowls, and tasting cups.
