Nowadays, some people still enjoy brewing in glass cups, as they can observe Anxi Tieguanyin tea leaves slowly absorbing water and unfurling, and watch the change in the tea liquor's color from the outside, which offers a unique pleasure. However, most people use a tea brewing set to prepare Anxi Tieguanyin, including the stove, kettle, Ou cups (a collective term for the lidded bowl and small tea cups), and the tray, known as the "Four Treasures of the Tea Room." What tea set can be used to brew Tieguanyin also depends on personal preference. Below is a detailed introduction on what tea sets can be used to brew Tieguanyin.
In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, it is customary to brew Tieguanyin in purple clay teapots. Made from natural clay, purple clay teapots have a dense, hard body, are unglazed, and are somewhat breathable and leak-proof. Brewing Tieguanyin in a purple clay teapot better preserves the tea's intrinsic qualities. Furthermore, these teapots come in various shapes and earthy colors. The longer they are used, the more they naturally absorb the tea's aroma. With constant handling, the pot's surface becomes smoother and more elegantly aged. Besides being used for brewing tea, they can also be collected, displayed, and appreciated as fine artworks.
Stove and Kettle: Every household in Anxi is equipped with delicate water-boiling utensils, such as alcohol stoves and small electric kettles. In recent years, portable boilers and induction cooktops have become popular for boiling water.
Lidded Bowl (Gai Ou), also known as a three-talent cup or covered bowl in the north, consists of three pieces: a tea bowl with a wide mouth and narrow bottom, a small saucer, and a lid. It emphasizes being white and thin. Originally used for evaluating tea quality grades, it is aesthetically pleasing, practical for observing color and smelling aroma, and has decorative value. Later, as it symbolizes the unity of heaven, earth, and man, it gradually became popular among the people.
Tea Cups: People prefer using small, exquisite, thin-walled white porcelain cups.
Tray: These can be wooden carved artworks or made of stainless steel.
In addition, tea tools like the tea spoon, tea tongs, tea funnel, and tea pick are traditionally used tea utensils made from bamboo craft. The tea spoon and funnel are for dispensing tea leaves, while the tongs are for handling and washing cups.
Anxi and Dehua both belong to Quanzhou City. People often use porcelain tea sets produced in the porcelain capital, Dehua, such as Jianbai porcelain. The tea sets often feature beautiful patterns and inscriptions on their walls, which are pleasing to the eye.
People in other parts of the country are more accustomed to using lidded cups to brew tea for guests. One cup per person is both convenient and hygienic, and it allows for brewing tea to different strengths according to guests' preferences. What tea set can be used to brew Tieguanyin also depends on personal preference and habit.