Teaware
Teaware is a broad international spectrum of equipment used in the brewing and consumption of tea. Many components make up that spectrum, and vary greatly based upon the type of tea being prepared, and the cultural setting in which it is being prepared. This is often referred to as the tea ceremony, and holds much significance in many cultures, particularly in northwestern Europe and in eastern Asia.
Components
Teapot | Used to steep the tea leaves in hot water | |
Teacup | Vessels from which to drink the hot tea out of which the leaves have been strained. There are many different kinds of tea cups. | |
Tea strainer | Used to extract leaves from tea solutions | |
Tea tray | Used to keep the tea and hot water from spilling onto the table | |
Tea ball and tea bag | Used to hold tea leaves in water for removal after steeping | |
Tea caddy | For storing tea when not being consumed | |
Tea cosy | A knitted cover for keeping a teapot hot after the tea is made |
Construction
Tea equipment may be constructed of many materials, from iron in Japan to porcelain and clay in China, and also bamboo and other woods. Of particular repute are the Yixing clay teapots produced in eastern China. (See: Yixing clay teapot).
Lu Yu's tea set (陸羽的茶具)
- Crushing block (砧椎)
- Brazier (風爐)
- Charcoal basket (炭筥)
- Charcoal mallet (炭檛)
- Fire chopsticks (火筴)
- Cauldron (鍑)
- Cauldron stand (交床)
- Tea tongs (夾)
- Paper wallet (紙囊)
- Crushing roller (碾)
- Sieve box (羅合)
- Tea holder (則)
- Water vessel (水方)
- Water filter bag (漉水囊)
- Gourd scooper (瓢)
- Bamboo tongs (竹夾)
- Salt container (鹺簋)
- Boiled water vessel (熟盂)
- Bowl (碗)
- Bowl basket (畚)
- Brush (劄)
- Water basin (滌方)
- Spent tea basin (滓方)
- Tea cloth (巾)
- Utensil table (具列)
- Utensil basket (都籃)
The 12 tea pieces for the elderly (審安老人的12茶具)
- Brazier (風爐)
- Crushing block (砧椎)
- Crushing roller (碾)
- Stone mill (石磨)
- Gourd scooper (瓢)
- Sieve box (羅合)
- Brush (札)
- Bowl basket (畚)
- Bowl (碗)
- Water vessel (水方)
- Tea whisk (茶筅)
- Tea cloth (巾)
The above tea pieces were also mentioned by Lu Yu except for the stone mill (石磨) and tea whisk (茶筅) in The Classic of Tea .
See also
- Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware
- Tea set
- List of Japanese tea ceremony equipment