Teaware

English teaware

Chawan (tea bowl) with "hare's fur" pattern, Jian ware from China during the Song dynasty

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. A complete, cohesive collection of tea ware makes up a tea set.

Components

Teaware (may be part of a Tea set)

	Teapot	Used to steep tea leaves in hot water
	Tea kettle	Used to boil water
	Teacup	Vessels from which to drink the hot tea (after the leaves have been strained). There are many different kinds of tea cups.
	Tea tray	Used to hold teaware; also keeps the tea and hot water from spilling onto the table
	Tea strainer	Used to extract leaves from tea solutions
	Tea ball (infuser)	Used to hold tea leaves in water for removal after steeping
	Tea bag	Alternative to the tea ball
	Teabag holder / coaster	Sized for holding a tea bag or ball
	Tea caddy	For storing tea when not being consumed
	Tea cosy	A knitted cover for keeping a teapot hot after the tea is made

Alternatives / Others

• Chaki, the caddy used at Japanese tea ceremonies.
• Chawan, tea bowl used in East Asian tea ceremonies
• Coffee cup, instead of tea cup
• Gaiwan, lidded cup for brewing and decanting or tea may even be drunk out of the vessel directly
• Japanese tea utensils, used in their tea ceremonies
• Mug, instead of tea cup
• Tea draining tray, for the Gongfu tea ceremony

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, a type of Yixing ware. The Brown Betty was originally made from red clay found in Britain.

Lu Yu's tea set (陸りく羽わ的てき茶ちゃ具ぐ)

Brazier of Lu Yu

Further information: The Classic of Tea and Lu Yu

• Crushing block (砧きぬた椎しい)
• Brazier (風爐ふろ)
• Charcoal basket (炭すみ筥)
• Charcoal mallet (炭すみ檛)
• Fire chopsticks (火ひ筴)
• Cauldron (鍑)
• Cauldron stand (交床)
• Tea tongs (夾)
• Paper wallet (紙かみ囊)
• Crushing roller (碾)
• Sieve box (羅ら合ごう)
• Tea holder (則のり)
• Water vessel (水みず方かた)
• Water filter bag (漉水囊)
• Gourd scooper (瓢ひさご)
• Bamboo tongs (竹たけ夾)
• Salt container (鹺簋)
• Boiled water vessel (熟じゅく盂)
• Bowl (碗わん)
• Bowl basket (畚ふご)
• Brush (劄)
• Water basin (滌方)
• Spent tea basin (滓かす方かた)
• Tea cloth (巾はば)
• Utensil table (具ぐ列れつ)
• Utensil basket (都と籃)

The twelve tea pieces for the elderly (審しん安やす老人ろうじん的てき12茶ちゃ具ぐ)

Song Dynasty Chinese tea ware

1. Brazier (風爐ふろ)
2. Crushing block (砧きぬた椎しい)
3. Crushing roller (碾)
4. Stone mill (石いし磨すり)
5. Gourd scooper (瓢ひさご)
6. Sieve box (羅ら合ごう)
7. Brush (札さつ)
8. Bowl basket (畚ふご)
9. Bowl (碗わん)
10. Water vessel (水みず方かた)
11. Tea whisk (茶筅ちゃせん)
12. Tea cloth (巾はば)

The above tea pieces were also mentioned by Lu Yu in The Classic of Tea, except for the stone mill (石いし磨すり) and tea whisk (茶筅ちゃせん).

See also

• Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware
• List of Japanese tea ceremony equipment