what is included in a chinese tea set
1. Cover bowl (teapot)
The cover bowl, also known as the “sancai bowl” or “sancai cup,” is the core utensil in a tea set and is mainly used for brewing and steeping tea. Its unique design combines the lid, bowl and saucer into one, symbolizing the unity of heaven, earth and man, and reflecting the application of ancient Chinese philosophical thought in the design of tea sets. Covered bowls are made from a variety of materials, including purple sand, porcelain and glass. Each material has its own unique air permeability and heat preservation properties, which can affect the brewing results. When using a covered bowl to brew tea, it is necessary to rinse it with hot water first to increase the temperature of the pot, which is beneficial to the development of the tea leaves and the release of their aroma. When brewing tea, put the right amount of tea leaves into the covered bowl, pour in hot water, wait for a moment, and then pour out the fragrant tea soup after the tea leaves have fully developed.
2. Cover rest
The lid rest, also known as the lid tray, is an accessory used to hold the lid of the teapot during the tea brewing process. Its main function is to prevent the lid from coming into direct contact with the tea table, reducing wear and tear and contamination. The lid rest is simple and practical in design, and is usually matched with a lid bowl or teapot. It is made of porcelain or wood, which is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean.
3. Tea strainer
A tea strainer is a utensil used to strain tea dregs. It is usually made of metal or ceramic. During the tea brewing process, the tea strainer is placed over the spout of the teapot to effectively filter out tea leaves and impurities, ensuring the purity and taste of the tea. The use of a tea strainer makes the tea-drinking process more elegant and hygienic, and avoids the embarrassment of having tea dregs in your mouth.
4. Gongdao cup
The gongdao cup, also known as cha hai, is a container for holding the tea broth. As the tea brewed in the teapot is not the same strength throughout and may contain tea residue, it cannot be poured directly into the teacups for guests to drink. The function of the fair cup is to evenly pour the tea soup from the teapot into it, and then distribute it to the individual tea cups, ensuring that each guest can taste the same flavor of tea soup. The design of the fair cup embodies the spirit of fairness and sharing in Chinese tea culture and is an indispensable part of the tea tasting process.
5. Tea cup
As the name suggests, the tea cup is used for drinking tea. It is mostly made of porcelain or purple clay, and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of which are decorated with patterns or designs. The size and shape of the tea cup will affect the taste of the tea. Generally speaking, the capacity should not be too large to preserve the flavor and aroma of the tea. When tasting tea, pouring the tea into the tea cup, observing the color, smelling the aroma, and savoring the taste to experience the flavor and aroma of the tea is one of the most important parts of the tea-tasting process.
6. The incense cup
A tea cup for smelling is an instrument used to smell the lingering fragrance at the bottom of the cup, and is usually used in conjunction with a tea cup. Its tall, small cup shape is designed to easily gather the tea fragrance, so that the tea drinker can smell it through their nose and experience the aroma of the tea. The texture of the tea cup for smelling is the same as that of the tea cup, mostly made of porcelain or purple clay. During the tea tasting process, first use the tea cup for smelling to experience the aroma of the tea, and then use the tea cup to taste the tea broth to more fully experience the quality and charm of the tea.
A six-piece tea set is the basic configuration for tea tasting and can meet the needs of most tea lovers. They each have their own unique uses and characteristics that together form a complete tea tasting experience. When choosing tea sets, tea lovers can choose the appropriate material, shape and style according to their preferences and needs. At the same time, care should be taken during use to keep the tea set clean and dry to avoid water and tea stains, prolong the service life of the tea set and maintain the hygiene and quality of the tea tasting.