What Exactly is a Cha Hai?
If you are subscribed to our YouTube channel or have read some of our articles, you’ve probably seen a piece of teaware made of glass that looks like a mini water pitcher called a Cha Hai (茶海), also known as Gong Dao Bei (公道杯).
The Cha Hai's literal translation is “sea of tea”, although a more popular version would be "fairness cup" or pitcher. It is a vessel that serves to control the strength of the brew.
After brewing the tea for a set amount of time, either in a yixing or in a gaiwan, the tea should be decanted into a Cha Hai, then poured into individual cups. This method ensures that the tea leaves do not continue to steep between pours. In Chinese, Cha Hai ("Sea of Tea") is also called Gong Dao Bei ("Bowl of Impartiality") because it allows each participant to enjoy the same brew.
Not all Cha Hai are made from glass, but glass ones are popular for the purpose of seeing the color of the brew clearly, while the teapot, gaiwan, and teacups are most commonly made from zisha (yixing clay) or porcelain.
Were Cha Hai Always Used?
Long, long ago, in the Tang Dynasty, during the times of the great Sage of Tea, Lu Yu, Cha Hai weren’t used. While traditional Gong Fu Cha relies on skillful circular pouring techniques to equalize the brew, Cha Hai is a modern innovation. It was popularized in the 1980s by Taiwanese tea practitioners to make the service easier and more precise. Before it came around, teacups would be lined up in a circle (or other shapes depending on the number of cups), and tea would be poured from the gaiwan/teapot in a steady, uninterrupted stream. This rarely resulted in the same taste unless the tea master was exceptionally skilled in the art of tea-pouring. Nowadays, some masters still refuse to use Cha Hai because they hold fast to their faith and pride in their pouring skills.
When, where, and by whom the first Cha Hai was used is unknown, even though now it is an irreplaceable part of Gong Fu brewing. It is especially important to use Cha Hai for denser teas. If you have ever brewed tea in a transparent vessel, you might have noticed that the brew surrounding the tea leaves at the bottom of the teaware is darker than the top layers of the brew. If we begin pouring this brew into cups, the first cups will be much lighter, and the people enjoying the tea will have different experiences. You can even try this for yourself by brewing tea gong fu style without a Cha Hai and compare the taste of the first cup poured with that of the last.
Ensuring that the participants of a tea ceremony have equal experiences is an integral part of tea culture that should not be overlooked.
Although now the Cha Hai is a crucial part of Gong Fu Tea Sets, if you happen to find yourself without one, there is no need to fear. You can always use another teapot for the same purpose, or any other vessel you have around. The most important part is to decant the tea brew into a separate vessel before pouring it into the individual cups. Follow this, and you will ensure your guests get an impartial experience! Happy tea brewing!
For more on how to brew tea Gong Fu style, please see the short video below with step-by-step instructions: