Chinese Vs Japanese Tea Set: What To Look For In Teacups & Tea Tools?

The difference in how tea is consumed in daily life – The great majority of Chinese tea users prepare their tea in a manner that a fellow tea aficionado has referred to as “grandpa style” (a large cup or bottle, some leaves, and hot water). This method may be used to eat any kind of tea, but some perform much better than others. On the other hand, Japanese consumers often enjoy their tea using teabags prepared in an English fashion or in powder form. Sencha may also be prepared with loose leaves in yunomi, which are huge sencha cups, as well as in homes and more upscale dining establishments.

Differences in the tea ceremony The ‘high art’ tea culture is a much more complicated beast, in part because many aspects of the practises among Chinese and Japanese tea culture are so closely intertwined that it becomes difficult to separate them from one another. This is one of the reasons why the tea ceremony is such a significant part of both cultures. On the surface, the two civilizations’ approaches to tea are clearly distinct from one another.

More fundamentally, the Japanese tea ceremony is very ornate and full of detailed regulations, with distinct schools geared at improving and propagating these traditions. These restrictions go all the way down to the direction in which one should move their hands throughout the ritual. Even for the most devoted tea experts, the traditional Chinese tea culture of the 20th century did not have the air of a ‘ceremony.’ The Chinese ‘Gongfucha’ is a method of preparing tea that aims to improve the flavour of the tea as well as heighten the satisfaction of drinking tea; nevertheless, this method has never grown into a form that is nearly as intricate as the Japanese tea ceremonies.

The flavour of the tea is highly distinct due to the fact that various types of tea were utilised. Tea experts in Japan concentrated on producing high-quality sencha and gyokuro (also known as steaming tea and jade-dew tea), in addition to matcha (ground tea). Instead, traditional Chinese tea drinkers concentrated on yancha (also known as rock cliff tea), tieguanyin (also known as iron Bodhisattva tea), and dancong (lonely bush tea).

Want to learn more? Read on!

Chinese Tea Sets

Chinese tea sets are very pretty and many of them out there have been around for multiple generations. They are made from durable materials and they aren’t going to chip very easily. Most of them are made from either high-quality porcelain or ceramic. Drinking tea is a tradition in China so you will find there are plenty of different styles of tea sets for you to choose from.

Some of the ancient Chinese tea sets were made from clay. The teapots and cups were baked to make them very hard and durable. Most of these clay types of Chinese tea sets are a light brown color. They are worth a great deal of money though if you have a full set that is still in great looking condition. You can expect to pay thousands of dollars to get your hands on one of them though if your family doesn’t have one that has been passed down.

You will find that the Chinese tea sets feature pots and cups that are smaller than what you may be accustomed to. These aren’t miniature Chinese tea sets though. This culture has as part of their tradition to drink many cups of tea in one setting. Yet those cups of tea are smaller than what we are used to drinking from. This can be a fun change though and one you will quickly get used to.

Many shops that feature items from around the world will have Chinese tea sets. You can look at the displays to see how they will actually look in your home. You will find they are amazing looking items and many sets may appeal to you. There are also plenty of places online where you can buy them. Make sure you check their reputation so you won’t get stuck with some cheap imitation Chinese tea set.

You also want to make sure they will pack everything very well. It can be upsetting if part of the Chinese tea set is broken upon arrival. Don’t forget to check out the return policy as well. This way if you don’t like the look of the Chinese tea set when you get it you can return it for another one.

Japanese Tea Sets

In Japan, tea is a drink that is common for just about every meal. They also enjoy tea in the afternoon and early evening. It isn’t surprising then that there are so many different types of Japanese tea sets for you to choose from. They are very beautiful and they will allow you to serve tea in your home very elegantly. Don’t be surprised if people continually ask you where you found such a lovely tea set.

There are many different types of materials that Japanese tea sets are made from. The most common ones are porcelain and ceramic. There are some that feature ancient design and those that have a more modern look to them. Almost all of the designs are hand painted so you can be sure you are getting a piece of the culture when you buy such Japanese tea sets.

The older models of them are made from cast iron. They are heavier and every bit as lovely. Some Japanese tea sets made from cast iron have been around for three or four generations. Yet you would never know it from looking at them due to how well they have held up. You won’t have to worry about the quality or the durability of such a tea set.

The cost of a Japanese tea set will depend on the materials they are made from. It will also depend on what style you choose to go with. There are some complete sets that are around $50. Others will cost you close to $500, especially if they are made from the cast iron. You definitely want to take your time to look around and make sure you are getting a quality set for the price they are charging though.

If you really enjoy drinking tea, having a Japanese tea set can be one of the ways to do so. You will really like the compliments you get from your guests who come over to drink tea with you. Chances are you will start drinking it more often as well just so you can use your wonderful Japanese tea set. There is really no reason not to enjoy using them due to how well made they are.