Teaware
This elegant 200ml Gong Dao Bei reminds us of a penguin (hence the name:) Its simple yet functional design features a sleek, transparent body crafted from clear fluted glass that allows you to fully appreciate the rich hues of your tea as it brews. The pour is precise and controlled, thanks to the finely crafted spout that ensures a drip-free experience, enhancing both the cleanliness and ritual of your tea serving.
This 250ml Gong Dao Bei features a mountain silhouette that adds a touch of nature and tranquility to your tea ritual. Crafted from clear glass, this Fairness Cup allows you to observe tea's vibrant hues and clarity, making every brewing session visually engaging and enjoyable.
Exquisite 170ml Mutton Fat Jade Porcelain Fairness Cup. Smooth to the touch and slightly translucent the material resembles a precious form of nephrite highly valued in Chinese culture. The handwritten calligraphy reads "一心问茶" (Yī Xīn Wèn Chá) – "Approach Tea With a Focused Heart." This phrase resonates deeply with Gong Fu Cha practice and Zen philosophy.
This beautifully 200ml glazed Cha Hai depicts white cranes — a symbol of peace and longevity in Chinese culture. Throughout imperial times in China, cranes were depicted on the robes of officials to represent their rank. We use this vessel to control the strength of the brew during Gong Fu tea ceremonies.
This 125ml Gong Dao Bei embodies a simple yet profound aesthetic of wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) that embraces the beauty of impermanence and simplicity. The abstract white splash on a dark, almost black background creates a striking and elegant visual contrast. The bright interior adds a beautiful contrast and highlights the rich colors of your tea, making each brewing session a visually engaging experience.
This 130ml Heart Sutra Cha Hai, crafted from unglazed Dehua ZhuNi clay, features intricate Heart Sutra etchings. Its design includes a smooth spout and a beautiful color contrast between the interior and exterior, enhancing both the visual and tea-serving experience. Perfect for Gong Fu Cha sessions.
This Digital Tea Scale, designed for tea enthusiasts who cherish precision, delivers the right amount of tea leaves for a perfect brew. With its refined appearance and dual functionality, it also acts as a modern Cha He (茶荷 – 'Tea Holder'), setting a stage where the tea becomes the star. Placing the leaves on the white surface showcases their beauty against the scale's sophisticated backdrop and transforms every brewing session into a ceremonious affair.
Cha He / Cha Ze, otherwise known as a 'Tea Box', is a vessel for tea introduction. It's essential to get acquainted with tea before brewing it. Crafted from bamboo, this elegant set brings a touch of simplicity and beauty to the tea ritual. The set includes a Tea Holder, a Tea Spoon that also functions as a Tea Pin, and a Spoon Rest.
Cha He, otherwise known as a 'tea box', is a vessel for tea introduction. It's essential to get acquainted with tea before brewing it. Hand-carved by a talented woodmaster, this Cha He, with its natural wood patterns, will complement a tea, create the right atmosphere, help get you into the right mood and elevate your tea ceremony.
A Cha He is otherwise known as a 'tea box' — a vessel for tea introduction. According to the Chinese tea ceremony tradition, we first look at the tea in the cha he and then 'deep face' into it. We inhale, exhale, and inhale once more, deeply through the nose. It allows for the ceremony participants to evaluate the tea that they will be drinking.
This beautifully glazed tea strainer makes a perfect addition to the "White Crane" Gong Fu Tea Set and to any Gong Fu Tea Session. Thanks to the fine silk net, the filter helps capture the tiniest tea leaf particles, resulting in a clear tea brew.
This beautiful tea strainer is a perfect addition to the Mutton Fat Jade Porcelain Set and to any Gong Fu Tea Session. Thanks to the fine porcelain net, it helps capture the tiniest tea leaf particles, ensuring the clearest tea brew. The handwritten calligraphy reads "一心问茶" (Yī Xīn Wèn Chá) – "Approach Tea With a Focused Heart." which resonates with the practice of Gong Fu Cha and Zen traditions.
This tea strainer, made of stainless steel, is a copy of a Bodhi Tree leaf – the sacred tree under which Buddha reached Enlightenment. Its compactness and durability make it perfect for taking it on trips, hikes, and any outdoor activities.
Tsubame Chakoshi (tea sifter) strikes a balance between straightforward elegance and functionality, lending a refined air to the simple actions of sifting matcha and filtering loose leaves. No two pieces are exactly alike due to the dappled, tsuchime (槌目) surface - a result of skilled artisans' hand-hammering.
Crafted from a durable blend of cotton and linen, this padded teaware carry bag is the traveling tea enthusiast's best friend. This case is perfect for those who value the tea ritual and love the outdoors. It's about making the Gong Fu Cha practice accessible, no matter where your day takes you.
This state-of-the-art GongFu Tea Tray is hand carved from pine wood and is the true embodiment of the Chinese Tea Ceremony. Watch water and tea elegantly trickle down the branches and into the trunk, feeding it water for the tree to grow bigger.
The symbol carved in the middle of this Tea Boat is the "Lu Star", which represents prosperity. The natural wood of this Chinese tea tray adds a peaceful air to any tea setting. The compact shape is perfect for at-home tea sessions and for taking it on a trip.
This Tea Pond is a nod to Chinese calligraphy, 'Lanting Xu' – "Orchid Pavilion Preface". It's not just a mere vessel for holding a teapot or cups; it's a reminder of the contemplative nature of tea, the fleeting beauty of gatherings, and the nature of existence. This plate is a piece of history brought into the modern tea ceremony.
This Teapot Rest is handmade from Jianshui Zitao – the unglazed purple pottery of southern Yunnan. Teapot Rest catches small amounts of rinse water and tea that overflow or drip during Gong Fu Cha brewing. It is large enough to hold a teapot (or a few cups) and keeps the tea table aesthetically beautiful and clean. The inside is decorated with a carved, scrolling cloud motif, placed off-center to create a sense of dynamism.
This table runner is a beautiful and practical choice for either formal or casual Cha Xi. The runner is made from a high-quality, water-resistant fabric that is pleasant to touch and holds up well to daily use. Tea spills can be easily wiped away without staining. The reverse side is lined with a non-slip material that helps to keep the runner in place. Fits most standard tables (32×210cm)
Tea Tongs (茶夹 – Cha Jia) is an essential tool for any tea lover. Crafted from natural bamboo, tea tongs are designed to handle teacups and other items with ease. Whether moving hot teacups, opening hot lids, or handling other tea accessories, tongs provide a safe and elegant way to do so without risking burns or spills.
This Cha Dao tea utensils set is crafted from bamboo. The focus is on preserving the natural shape and texture of the bamboo, bridging the tea ritual to its roots in nature. This eco-friendly material offers both durability and a sense of connection to the environment, embodying the essence of tea aesthetics.
Cha Dao translates to "teaism" or "the way of tea". We use this term to describe a set of tea tools that are essential to any Chinese Tea Ceremony — Gong Fu Cha. This beautiful emerald Gong Fu Tool Set depicts white cranes, symbolizing peace and longevity in Chinese culture.
The chasen, matcha whisk, is an integral part of Cha No Yu. It is used in a zig-zag motion to dissolve powdered matcha in a bowl with water.
About Teaware [+]
Gong Fu Cha (工夫茶) is a practice of making tea with skill, patience, and attention – 工夫 (Gong Fu) meaning the time and effort invested in mastering a craft. The teaware is not incidental to that practice. The material of the vessel, its size, its porosity, and its heat retention all shape what ends up in the cup. Choosing the right teaware for a particular tea is part of the craft itself.
Our teaware spans the major traditions of Chinese and Japanese tea practice – from Chaozhou clay stove and Yixing ZiSha teapots to Japanese Kyusu and Chawan. Browse by category, or read on for guidance on pairing teaware with tea type.
What Is Gong Fu Cha?
Gong Fu Cha is the Chinese practice of brewing tea in small, concentrated quantities using a high leaf-to-water ratio and short, repeated infusions. The same leaves are steeped multiple times. Each infusion reveals something different about the tea.
What Is a Gong Fu Tea Set?
A complete Gong Fu tea set typically includes a small teapot or gaiwan, a Cha Hai (茶海 – Fairness Pitcher), and teacups. A full setup may also include a tea tray (Cha Pan – 茶盘), tea tools (Cha Dao – 茶道), and a tea pet (茶宠 – Cha Chong). Having a complete set is not essential – many practitioners start with just a gaiwan, Cha Hai, and a few cups.
What Is a Tea Pet?
A tea pet (茶宠 – Cha Chong) is a small clay figurine that lives on the tea tray and receives the leftover tea during the session – rinse water, first steep, the last drops from the Cha Hai. Over time, an unglazed clay or porous stone tea pet absorbs the tea's oils and develops its own patina.
Gong Fu Tea Cups
In Chinese, the small drinking cups used in Gong Fu Cha are called Pin Ming Bei (品茗杯 – Tasting Cups). In the West, "Gong Fu teacup" is more widely used. Standard Gong Fu cups range from 30–90ml – small enough to concentrate aroma and encourage multiple short steepings.
Aroma Cups
Aroma cups (闻香杯 – Wen Xiang Bei) come in sets of two: a tall, slender cup and a short, wide tasting cup. Tea is poured into the tall aroma cup, which is then covered with the tasting cup and flipped. The tea moves to the tasting cup, and the aroma cup – still warm – is lifted and inhaled. This practice is most common with aromatic Taiwanese oolongs, though it works with any fragrant tea.
Yixing ZiSha (宜兴紫砂) – The Most Famous Chinese Clay
Yixing clay (ZiSha – 紫砂) comes from Yixing county in Jiangsu province. Its breathable micro-structure and steady heat retention soften some of the harsher edges in the tea, producing a rounder, smoother cup. Because unglazed Yixing clay is porous, it gradually absorbs trace amounts of tea over time – seasoning the vessel and allowing a subtle interaction between clay and liquor that deepens with each session. For this reason, many practitioners keep Yixing teapots dedicated to a single tea type or family.
The main ZiSha clay types:
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Zi Ni (紫泥 – Purple Clay): The most classic and versatile. Breathable, with balanced heat retention. Suited to pu-erh, aged teas, and oolongs.
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Zhu Ni (朱泥 – Red Clay): Fine-grained and less porous than Zi Ni, characteristic red-to-vermilion color. Favored for high-fragrance teas.
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Duan Ni (段泥 – Layered Clay): Stronger sand structure, more absorbent than Zi Ni, softens bitterness and astringency. Color ranges from golden beige to light yellow.
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Lu Ni (绿泥 – Green Clay): Named for the pale green color of the raw ore. After firing, it becomes pale yellow to beige depending on the temperature. A rare clay with excellent breathability.
Unglazed Yixing teaware should never be cleaned with detergent – water only.
Jianzhan (建盏 – Tenmoku)
Jianzhan (建盏) is Chinese black porcelain from Jianyang, Fujian, originating in the Song dynasty (960–1279 AD). The high iron oxide content in the glaze gives Jianzhan its distinctive deep black to iridescent blue-black tones, and has a practical effect on the tea: when hot water contacts the iron-rich glaze, iron ions are released that soften the water, neutralize tannins, and produce a noticeably smoother, sweeter mouthfeel. Jianzhan is particularly well-suited to pu-erh, dark oolongs, and black tea. For reference comparison, pair your Jianzhan cup with a neutral porcelain or glass vessel and taste side by side.
Teapots and Gaiwans
There are two primary brewing vessels in Gong Fu Cha: the teapot and the gaiwan.
A gaiwan (盖碗 – lidded bowl) consists of a bowl, lid, and (sometimes) saucer. Both gaiwan and Chinese Gong Fu teapots are small – typically 80–200ml – and made from clay, porcelain, or glass.
Choosing Teaware by Tea Type
White Tea Young white tea is delicate. Use thin-walled porcelain or glass – neutral vessels that won't overpower subtle florals. Yixing clay is not recommended for young whites; it can mask the tea's delicacy. Aged white tea, however, benefits from thick-walled vessels and handles Yixing well.
Green Tea and Yellow Tea Thin porcelain or glass works best. Green tea is temperature-sensitive and benefits from quick pouring – choose a teapot with a fast-flowing spout.
Light Oolong Tightly rolled lightly oxidized oolongs (Taiwanese high mountain, Anxi Tie Guan Yin) need room to expand. Use a tall, round teapot or gaiwan. Porcelain or glass preferred; porous clay is workable but less ideal.
Wuyi Rock Tea and Dan Cong Oolong Dark, roasted, strip-leaf oolongs suit flat, short teapots with thick walls. Porous clay – particularly Yixing Zhu Ni and Chaozhou Hong Ni – is the traditional choice: the clay rounds out robust flavors and accumulates the aromatic oils over time.
Black Tea (红茶 – Hong Cha) Chinese black tea handles high temperatures well. Thick-walled teapots and Yixing clay suit most styles. Exception: highly smoky teas like Lapsang Souchong are best brewed in porcelain or glass so the smoke doesn't permanently season the clay.
Raw Pu-erh (生普洱 – Sheng), Ripe Pu-erh (熟普洱 – Shou), Hei Cha (黑茶) Porous, heat-retaining clay teapots that absorb excessive bitterness and astringency and integrate the earthy, woody character of the tea.
Japanese Tea
Matcha (抹茶) requires a chawan (茶碗 – tea bowl), a chasen (茶筅 – bamboo whisk), a chashaku (茶杓 – bamboo scoop), and a matcha sifter. The chawan must be wide enough for the whisk to move freely.
Kyusu (急須) A traditional Japanese side-handle teapot made from clay. The built-in mesh filter holds back fine Japanese leaves. Used for sencha, genmaicha, hojicha, and most everyday Japanese green teas.
Shiboridashi (絞り出し) or Houhin (宝瓶) Similar to a gaiwan in form but with a built-in spout filter. The lid acts as a strainer during pouring. Ideal for low-temperature, umami-rich teas like gyokuro and premium sencha.
Tetsubin (鉄瓶) A traditional Japanese cast-iron kettle, used for boiling and holding water. The modern version – the Tetsu-Kyusu – is enamel-coated inside and can be used for brewing. Do not place on a stove.