The Traditional Chinese Tea Tray, also referred to as 茶盘 (Cha Pan) or 茶船 (Cha Chuan), serves an essential role in Gong Fu Cha. Its primary function is straightforward: to collect excess water and tea during brewing, keeping the tea space organized and clean throughout the process. It ensures that the focus remains on the brewing and enjoyment of tea.
Tea Boat (Cha Chuan – 茶船) is designed to hold one teapot, pitcher, or a few cups, catching excess water when rinsing the teaware or discarding the first brew.
The tea tray is made from natural wood, which offers a warm and grounding presence to a tea session. The natural grain and texture of the wood add a visual appeal without being overly decorative. In the center of the tray, the Lu Star is engraved — a symbol of prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture.
This tray is designed with simplicity, allowing it to blend well with different tea sets and utensils. Its size makes it perfect for using it at home or taking it on a trip.
It’s a piece of teaware that enhances the flow of the tea session without demanding attention, bringing a quiet elegance to the table.
• Material: Sandalwood
• Dimensions:
Tray area (Diameter): 5.3 in / 13.5cm
Total (Diameter): 6.7 in / 17 cm
• Tray Capacity: 100ml
The teaware on the photos is not included.
NOTE: Avoid using detergents when cleaning.
Customer Reviews
The tray is small to be expected. I do wish it held a bit more volume. When I received mine it smelled a bit odd. Almost resin like. I don't believe sandlewood smells like what this does. However I am sure the fragrance will change overtime. Overall I am pleased with this purchase.
I knew this was going to be a small tea tray, which is good for me as a solo drinker. But I underestimated just how small - or rather, how much bigger my teaware was going to be compared to it! It's so beautiful and quaint though, so I'm not upset at all. It's literally perfect for what it's for anyway: where I put my cup and tea pet, which will get the most pouring-on to catch water from.
This chapan is small and lovely, perfect for a tea ritual in solitude. It's exactly what I was looking for. And the customer service I received was outstanding. Thank you, Path of Cha team!
I really like this tray. The material and the finish – everything looks and feels good. The only downside is that it's not big enough to fit all of the teaware that I'm using for my gongfucha: a teapot, chahai and cups. I could probably guess it from looking at the last picture in the description but somehow it did not click in my head. Having said that, the piece is lovely, I found a way to incorporate it into my ceremony and I am getting lots of joy from using it.