A warm cup of tea in a quiet space is a unique and indispensable cultural feature in Eastern countries, including Vietnam. Through tea drinking, the tea brewer can learn to cultivate patience and self-improvement. Today, let’s explore the beauty of the tea-drinking art through our article “What is included in a tea set? Discover the basic tea ceremony tools.”
1 What is included in a tea set?
For a long time, the art of tea drinking has been an indispensable spiritual culture for every Easterner. Tea drinking, also known as the tea ceremony, is a style of drinking tea in a quiet space, letting your soul be in the most comfortable state, focusing on the delicious tea and the tea-drinking philosophy, and brewing tea like an artisan, beautifully and meticulously. Through tea drinking and conversation, the unique culture of each Eastern country will be widely promoted to international friends.
The art of tea brewing in the East
To enjoy a quality cup of tea during a conversation, delicious tea, good water, and brewing techniques are important factors. However, to have a professional tea-drinking session, you also need a tea set or tea utensils. A tea set includes many details such as a teapot, tea cups, tea strainer, tea tray, tea container, a set of tea tools, a kettle, and a tablecloth.
Basic tea set
Whether you are an amateur or a professional tea drinker, a tea set is necessary, but you don’t need to have every single detail, nor do you need to be too rigid and strict.
2 Discover the basic tea ceremony tools
Teapot
Teapot
For those who love drinking tea, the teapot is an indispensable tool in tea-drinking conversations.
There are many types of teapots made from different materials such as earthenware, Zisha, stoneware, porcelain, and glass. With stoneware and porcelain teapots, it is best to brew light and cooling teas such as green tea and white tea. As for earthenware and Zisha teapots, they are more suitable for fermented teas such as black tea, oolong tea, and dark tea.
Zisha earthenware teapot
The Zisha earthenware teapot is one of the four national treasures of China preserved to this day, so it is highly regarded in the art of tea drinking, and a delicious and high-quality cup of tea brewed from a Zisha teapot is admired.
A good teapot should have a hard shell, low permeability, and a clear and crisp sound when tapped lightly. The lid of the teapot should fit tightly to retain the tea’s flavor and prevent water from leaking when pouring tea.
Depending on the number of people drinking tea together, you can choose a teapot of a suitable size to avoid having too much or too little tea. Two cups of tea per person per brew is usually appropriate.
Tea Cups
To have a delicious tea-drinking session, you need not only a teapot but also tea cups. In the past, a tea set usually included four different types of cups for the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Nowadays, you can choose according to your preferences and financial ability.
Typically, a tea set will have a large tea cup and small tea cups, with the number depending on the customs of each country.
Large Tea Cup
The large tea cup has a capacity equivalent to the teapot and is usually made of ceramic or glass. It is used to pour the tea from the teapot after each brew before distributing it into the small cups. It is an essential tool to observe the tea’s color, filter the tea residue, and reduce the tea’s temperature easily.
Large tea cup
Tip
For teas that need to be brewed at low temperatures, such as green tea, you can pour boiling water into the large tea cup first to reduce the water temperature before pouring it into the teapot to start brewing.
Small Tea Cups
Today, there are two main types of small tea cups: drinking cups and aroma cups.
- Drinking cups: These have a wide mouth and a shallow base, making it convenient to enjoy and observe the tea’s full color.
- Aroma cups: These have a deep base and a relatively small mouth, smaller than the drinking cups, and are used to enjoy the tea’s aroma.
Small tea cups
Tea Bowl
The tea bowl originated in ancient China, and nowadays, only a few Chinese people in Vietnam use it.
This type of cup has a lid and a saucer underneath and is relatively large.
Tip
Rinse the tea bowl with boiling water, put the tea inside, pour in hot water, and cover it for about 2 minutes. You will then have a self-brewed cup of tea without a teapot.
Tea bowl
Tea Strainer
The tea strainer is a significant part of the tea set and is usually used with the large tea cup to filter tea residue, making the tea clearer and more aesthetically pleasing.
Due to cultural differences, tea strainers are commonly seen in tea conversations in Taiwan and China but rarely in Vietnam.
Tea strainer
Tea Tray
In Eastern countries, people use tea trays to hold the teapot and cups, preventing water from spilling onto the table or the sitting area.
Tea trays are usually made of wood, a durable and easy-to-clean material. Nowadays, tea trays are designed in various styles and models to suit every household’s consumption criteria.
Tea tray
Tea Container
To keep the tea fragrant and flavorful, a tea container is a must-have in a tea set.
Tea containers made of aluminum, tin, or glass are commonly used in Vietnam and other Eastern countries.
Tip
To prevent the tea from losing its flavor, becoming damp, moldy, or fermented, choose an airtight and dark-colored tea container to minimize the impact of air and light on the tea’s quality.
Tea container
Set of Tea Tools
At professional tea-drinking sessions, you will always see the tea brewer with a dedicated set of tea tools.
The set includes a tea spoon for taking tea from the container, a pair of tongs for handling the cups, and a funnel to prevent tea from spilling when putting it into the teapot. These tools are kept in a tea caddy.
Set of tea tools
Kettle
The kettle used in the tea ceremony is usually made of ceramic, glass, or metal and has an attractive design.
To match the atmosphere of the tea-drinking session, it is best to use a kettle specifically designed for the tea ceremony instead of an electric kettle! Nowadays, there are many types of electronic kettles on the market, some of which have automatic water dispensing systems built into the tea table.
Kettle
Tablecloth
To ensure that the tea table is always clean and tidy, a tablecloth is essential. The tablecloth should be made of cotton fabric, which easily absorbs water.
Note
Use this tablecloth only for the tea table and not for other places like the kitchen, as the tea table may absorb cooking odors.
Tablecloth
A warm cup of tea opens the way to a new, calm, and peaceful state of mind. Thank you for reading this article, and I hope it has helped you appreciate this subtle and unique art and culture.
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