Tea set facts for kids
A tea set or tea service is a group of matching dishes and tools. People use them to make and serve tea. What's in a tea set can be different in various countries and cultures.
Contents
The History of Tea Sets
The story of tea sets began in China. This was during the Han Dynasty (206–220 BC). Back then, tea dishes were made from porcelain. There were two main types. One was white porcelain from the north. The other was light blue porcelain from the south.
Early Tea Bowls
These old tea sets were not like the ones we use today. They did not have creamers or sugar bowls. Instead, they were simple bowls. People would put spiced or plain tea leaves in them. Then, they would pour water over the leaves. These bowls were used for many cooking needs. At that time, tea was mostly a medicine. It was not a daily drink just for fun.
The Teapot Appears
Many people believe the teapot was created during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). Archaeologists found an old oven. Inside it were pieces of a Yixing teapot. Yixing teapots are very famous. They are called Zi Sha Hu in China. In the U.S., they are known as Purple Sand teapots.
Yixing Teapots
These special teapots get their name from a small city. It is in Jiangsu Province, China. The clay there has a unique iron ore. This gives the teapots their special color. They were baked without a shiny glaze. People used them to brew certain types of oolong teas.
The clay in these pots is a bit porous. This means it can soak up some tea. Over time, using the pot for one kind of tea would "season" it. This seasoning made the tea taste even better. Artists also made fun teapots. Some were shaped like animals.
Other Song Dynasty Teaware
The Song Dynasty also made beautiful ceramic teapots. They created lovely tea bowls too. These bowls had glowing glazes. They came in colors like brown, black, and blue. People used a bamboo whisk. They would beat the tea to make it frothy. The Chinese loved this foamy tea.
Chinese Yixing Tea Set Items
A Chinese Yixing tea set is used to serve guests. It usually has several items.
- A Yixing teapot to brew the tea.
- A tray to catch any spilled tea or water.
- Cups for drinking the tea.
- A tea tool kit. This kit often includes a digger, funnel, needle, shuffle, tongs, and a vase.
- A brush to spread wasted tea over the tray. This helps create an even tea stain over time.
- A sieve to filter out small tea leaf bits. Even from a teapot, some bits might pour out.
- One or two clay animals. Many Chinese tea drinkers use them for display and good luck.
