It's All About Tea — teaware

The story of fine ceramics in China is inextricably linked to the evolution of Chinese Tea Culture. During the Song Dynasty, Henan province flourished as the cultural and economic heart of the empire, where the arts reached an apex of sophistication. It was during this era of whisked powdered tea (Dian Cha) that the renowned Ru Ware (Ru Yao) emerged, at first as elegant bowls and vessels designed to complement the aesthetics of the imperial court. While the teapot itself would not be invented until the Ming Dynasty, the legacy of Ru-style stoneware began here, setting a standard of beauty that tea lovers still revere today. (Read more)

Any tea advice blog you turn to will say the same thing. Never use soap to wash your teaware. This is absolutely correct. Soaps and detergents can impart unfavorable flavors on delicate teaware. Usually, a quick rinse with hot water should suffice. However, what about those times that our teaware needs a little extra cleaning? (Read more)

Learning the sophisticated art of gong fu cha, we begin to understand the subtleties involved. First, we learn that tea is alive. And only by treating tea properly, preparing it the way it deserves, are we granted an impeccable, sweet, and aromatic brew.

Then we learn about teaware. We understand how to take care of the teaware – with care and never using dish soap. Gently drying after each use. We also learn that teaware is alive, particularly the clay from which the teaware is made.

A Yixing teapot is not just about the clay's porosity, the way it looks, the name, or even the way it makes your tea taste. It is all about the way you take care of it. If not properly cared of, a Yixing teapot is just about as useful as a run-of-the-mill ceramic teapot. (Read more)

Last month, we wrote a little bit about the history of the teapot. While kettles for brewing tea have existed for millennia, teapots as brewing vessels became widespread during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). This was around the time when loose leaf tea started gaining popularity over powdered tea. Thanks to the teapot's evolution, we now have not only many shapes but also many different materials to choose from! (Read more)

Once drinking Japanese green tea was reserved only for the Emperors, noblemen, and samurai. Nowadays, Japanese green tea is enjoyed in households all throughout Japan. The kyusu is used all through Japan for the convenience of brewing Japanese green teas like sencha, genmaicha, and gyokuro. It is an iconic part of modern Japanese tea drinking culture. (Read more)