お茶の旅
2020.05.29

[Tea Life] Choose suitable teaware to make tea at your ease.

[Tea Life] Choose suitable teaware to make tea at your ease.



Using different kinds of material of teaware will have an influence on the taste of the tea.

Common materials for teaware include:

Clay (purple clay), porcelain, and glass.


Characteristics:

Clay (purple sand): porous material, retaining heat better

Porcelain: pores on the surface are microscopic, dissipating heat better.

Glass: pores on the surface are microscopic, dissipating heat the best.


Suitable tea types:

Clay: suitable for roasted teas, e.g., Dong Ding Oolong Tea. It mellows the tea aroma.

Porcelain: suitable for fresh teas, e.g., High Mountain Oolong Tea.

Glass: suitable for fresh teas, e.g., Oriental Beauty Tea and Black Tea.


Presentation for the taste:

Clay: full-bodied taste with deeper aroma.

Porcelain: high and refreshing aroma with a lighter taste.

Glass: high and refreshing aroma with a lighter taste.


Summary:

Full-bodied taste: Clay > Porcelain > Glass

High and refreshing aroma: Porcelain = Glass > Clay

Heat retaining: Clay > Porcelain = Glass


Q: Do I have to use the specific tea wares for specific tea types?

A: Yes, so it could present the unique flavor of that specific tea.


Q: What if I use different materials of teaware to make tea?

A: By doing so, you could adjust the tea flavor. Take Dong Ding Oolong Tea for example. If you use the purple sand clay pot to brew the tea, it will have a strong aftertaste and full-bodied flavor. If you use the porcelain teaware to brew the tea, it will have a lighter taste and evident roasted aroma, which is suitable for people not used to drinking stronger tea.