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The difference between an ordinary and an extraordinary cup of tea could be the cup itself! Upgrading to high-quality teaware can make a remarkable difference in how your tea tastes and feels. Instead of buying overpriced Chinese tea, consider investing in teapots, cups, and accessories made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, glass, or clay, such as Yixing clay teapots. These materials are non-reactive and won't impart unwanted flavours to your tea, allowing you to fully appreciate its aroma and taste.
Also Read: 7 Chinese Drinks To Try Out For Good Health
In fact, instead of your regular tea set, opt for modern teaware that has been designed to be more usable. Choose a teaware that is comfortable to hold and pour from, with features like ergonomic handles and balanced designs. If you’re a tea connoisseur, these pointers can change the way you make tea at home.
Use non-porous materials
When selecting teaware for your tea set, opt for non-porous materials which do not absorb liquids or flavours and make sure that your tea remains pure and untainted by unwanted residues.
Porcelain is a popular choice for teapots, cups, and accessories due to its non-porous nature and elegant appearance. It is smooth, durable, and easy to clean, making it ideal for brewing and serving a wide range of teas without affecting their flavour or aroma.
Ceramic teaware, including stoneware and earthenware, is another excellent option for tea enthusiasts. Like porcelain, ceramic is non-porous and does not absorb liquids. Glass teaware is prized for its transparency and for allowing you to observe the colour and clarity of your tea as it brews. Glass is non-porous and inert so it won't interact with the tea or alter its taste. Moreover, glass teapots and cups are easy to clean and maintain.
Use Proper Brewing Equipment
If you prefer a flavourful brew, you need some additional equipment. Brewing tea requires precision and attention to detail, and having the right equipment can make a significant difference in the flavour and aroma of your tea. Invest in a quality electric kettle with variable temperature control, which allows you to heat water to the optimal temperature for different types of tea. A digital scale is also essential for measuring tea leaves accurately, ensuring consistent brewing results. Additionally, consider adding a tea timer to your set to keep track of brewing times and achieve the perfect strength for your tea.
Heat-retaining materials help
For a tea set that retains heat effectively, consider materials like ceramic or porcelain. These materials have excellent heat retention properties, keeping your tea at the optimal temperature for longer periods. Ceramic and porcelain teapots and cups are durable and non-porous, ensuring that they retain heat evenly and maintain the flavour and aroma of your tea.
Another option is double-walled glass teaware, which features an insulating layer of air between two glass walls. This design helps trap heat inside the teapot or cup, keeping your tea warm without transferring heat to the exterior surface. Double-walled glass teaware is also visually appealing, allowing you to admire the colour and clarity of your tea as it brews.
Explore Yixing tea pots
Yixing clay teapots, traditionally crafted from clay mined in the Yixing region of China, are prized for their unique properties and ability to improve with use over time. Also known as zisha clay, it’s porous and highly absorbent, allowing it to absorb the flavours and aromas of the tea brewed in it. Over time, the clay develops a patina that enhances the flavour and aroma of subsequent brews, resulting in a more complex and nuanced tea experience.
Yixing clay teapots have excellent heat retention properties, which help maintain the temperature of the water throughout the brewing process. This ensures that the tea leaves are steeped at the optimal temperature, allowing them to release their full flavour and aroma.
The porous nature of Yixing clay allows air to circulate through the teapot, which can improve the oxidation process during brewing. This can result in a smoother and more balanced tea with a richer mouthfeel.
