Tea culture in China has endured for millennia. Through the ancient tea horse trail, a route renowned for its spectacular natural scenery and mysterious cultures, tea's fragrance spread across the world. Just as good horses need good saddles, fine tea and water require equally fine tea wares. The variety of tea wares in our country is extensive, with beautiful shapes that are both practical and artistically pleasing. To many, tea wares are not just vessels but a beautiful connection in life, a way to adorn spaces. As specialized tools for drinking tea, they have undergone much development and change. The main types of tea wares include:

Earthenware Tea Wares

“The porcelain Teapots of Yangxian (now Yixing) became popular during the late Ming dynasty, with the best ones valued as highly as gold and jade.” This refers to the outstanding earthenware from Yixing, known as purple clay tea wares. Purple clay teapots rose to prominence in the early Northern Song dynasty and became very popular in the Ming dynasty. They are made without glaze, using local purple clay, red clay, and Tuan mountain clay, which are shaped and fired. Due to their high firing temperature, the resulting Pottery is dense and fine-grained, neither seeping nor leaking while having microscopic pores. They do not conduct heat quickly and will not burn your hands. If filled with hot tea on a hot day, the tea will not sour easily. Even if subjected to sudden changes in temperature, they will not crack.

Their shapes are often simple and elegant, resembling bamboo knots, lotus roots, pine segments, or imitating the shapes of ancient bronze ware from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, with colors that are rustic and antique. In an episode of Emperor Kangxi's Undercover Travels, there is a story about a purple clay potter who suffered injustice because of his teapot. The teapot in question had absorbed tea juice over long use, imbuing it with such rich flavor that even without adding tea leaves, the taste would still be fragrant and full, leading to envy from unscrupulous individuals and triggering a series of events involving the emperor himself.

Ceramic Tea Wares

In the early days, our country's tea wares were primarily made of earthenware. After the invention of ceramics, earthenware tea wares were gradually replaced by ceramic ones. Ceramic tea wares can be further divided into white ceramic tea wares, green ceramic tea wares, and black ceramic tea wares, among others.

White Ceramic Tea Wares

The most famous ceramics come from Jingdezhen, known for their pure white color, which allows the tea broth's color to be clearly displayed. Their thermal conductivity and insulation properties are moderate, making them prized for their ability to retain heat. Coupled with their colorful decorations and unique shapes, they are considered precious among tea drinking utensils. Today, white ceramic tea wares have been given a new look. These white-glazed tea wares are suitable for brewing all kinds of tea. Additionally, white ceramic tea wares are exquisitely crafted and adorned with various designs, including landscapes, seasonal flowers, animals, human figures, and stories, or embellished with calligraphy by famous scholars, making them valuable for artistic appreciation. As a result, they are widely used.

Green Ceramic Tea Wares

The best quality green ceramic tea wares are produced in Zhejiang. As early as the Eastern Han dynasty, they began producing pure, translucent green ceramics. During the Song dynasty, one of the five famous kilns, Ge Kiln in Zhejiang, reached its peak, producing various green ceramic wares, including teapots, tea bowls, tea cups, tea saucers, etc. The area along the Ou River was bustling with activity, with kilns lining the banks, smoke visible from each, and boats shuttling back and forth, a prosperous scene. At the end of the 16th century, Longquan green ceramics were exported to France, causing a sensation throughout France. People compared them to the beautiful green robe worn by the heroine, She Latong, in the popular European play, The Shepherdess, calling Longquan green ceramics “She Latong,” considering them rare treasures. In addition to sharing many advantages with other ceramic tea wares, their green hue enhances the beauty of the tea broth when used to brew Green Tea.

Black Ceramic Tea Wares

The custom of tea competitions was prevalent in Fujian during the Song dynasty. Participants believed that black ceramic teacups produced in Jian'an were the most suitable for tea competitions, hence their fame. Black ceramic Jian cups have unique formulas, with glazes that produce patterns resembling rabbit fur, partridge spots, and sunspots. When tea broth is poured into these cups, they emit a dazzling array of lights, enhancing the fun of the tea competition. However, they are “not recommended” and only “kept as an option.”

Lacquer Tea Wares

Lacquer tea wares originated in the Qing dynasty, mainly produced in Fuzhou, Fujian. The lacquer tea wares made in Fuzhou come in various forms, including “jewel sand luster,” “gold-thread agate,” “glaze-changing gold thread,” “antique porcelain imitation,” “carved fill,” “high relief,” and “silver-inlaid,” among others. Especially after creating the “ruby-like vermilion sand” and “hidden flower” techniques, they became even more striking and delightful.

Glass Tea Wares

Glass is transparent and radiant. Using a glass cup to brew tea allows the vibrant color of the tea broth and the delicate softness of the tea leaves to be fully appreciated. The rising and falling of the leaves, the gradual unfurling of the leaves during the brewing process, can all be seen clearly, offering a dynamic visual experience. Especially when brewing various famous teas, the crystal-clear teaware and the light mist within, together with the clear green hue and the upright appearance of the tea buds, are a feast for the eyes, adding another layer of enjoyment.

Metal Tea Wares

Metal utensils refer to those made of materials such as gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin. They are among the oldest daily utensils in our country. In the mid-1980s, a set of gilded metal tea wares offered by Emperor Xizong of the Tang dynasty was unearthed at Famen Temple in Fufeng, Shaanxi, which could be considered a rare treasure among metal tea wares. However, since the Song dynasty, opinions on metal tea wares have been mixed. Some believe that using them to boil water and brew tea alters the “flavor of the tea,” leading to infrequent usage. However, metal containers, such as tin bottles and cans, for storing tea are quite common. Metal containers for storing tea have better airtightness than paper, bamboo, wood, ceramic, and clay containers, providing better protection against moisture and light, which helps preserve loose tea. Therefore, tin containers for storing tea are still popular today.

Bamboo and Wood Tea Wares

Prior to the Sui and Tang dynasties, tea drinking in our country was relatively