Introduction to Chinese Tea Utensils

I. Main Tea-making Utensils

Teapot: The core utensil for steeping and pouring tea, often made from purple clay or porcelain, each material boasting its unique characteristics. Purple clay teapots are highly prized for their ability to absorb tea juice and retain tea flavor.

Covered Bowl: Also known as the “Three Talents Bowl” or “Three Talents Cup,” it features a cover, a saucer, and a bowl, symbolizing harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity. The covered bowl can be used for both steeping tea and drinking directly, offering flexibility in use.

Fairness Cup: Used to evenly distribute tea, ensuring that every tea drinker can enjoy tea with a consistent concentration.

Tea Cup: A utensil for holding and drinking the steeped tea, often short and available in various designs.

Fragrance Cup: Specifically designed for smelling tea aroma, usually used in conjunction with a tea cup, allowing tea drinkers to better enjoy the tea aroma while tasting.

II. Auxiliary Utensils

Tea Tray: Used to hold tea cups or other tea utensils, and to collect any spilled tea during the tea-making process, keeping the tea table tidy.

Tea Caddy: For storing tea, it must be odor-free, airtight, and light-proof to facilitate moisture prevention and maintain tea aroma.

Tea Scoop: Used to measure tea from the tea caddy, ensuring accurate tea portioning.

Tea Spoon: An implement for scooping tea from the tea holder into the teapot, can also be used to remove tea residue.

Tea Needle: Used to unblock the spout of the teapot, maintaining smooth water flow.

Tea Strainer: Placed on the pot mouth to guide tea leaves into the pot, preventing them from falling out due to the small pot mouth.

Tea Tongs: Used to pick up cups or tea residue, preventing burns and ensuring hygiene.

Tea Towel: For wiping residual water from tea utensils or tabletops, keeping the tea table clean.

Tea Pet: A pet nourished by tea or a plaything during tea drinking, often made from purple clay, resin, or clay.

Cup Saucer: A small tray for holding tea cups, primarily to prevent burns from hot tea and also for aesthetic purposes.

Cover Stand: An object for placing pot covers, cup covers, etc., to avoid dirt or slipping.

III. Other Tea Utensils

Water Boiler: Used for boiling water, available in various materials such as purple clay, glass, stainless steel, etc.

Tea Holder: For holding dry tea leaves to be steeped, facilitating the appreciation of tea’s appearance and color.

Tea Tray: Tea from the teapot is first poured into the tea tray before being distributed into small cups, helping to evenly distribute tea concentration.

Water Basin: A container for discarding water, tea residue, etc., keeping the tea table tidy.

Tea Storage: Small tea tins for storing tea, with good sealing properties to effectively maintain tea freshness.