Teaware

[forestofglory]

A while back I wrote about how I was enjoying learning more about and tasting Chinese styles of tea. Since then I’ve also started collecting teaware.

I started with a pair of tea cups from Tenmokus which I hesitated to buy because they are expensive and I have been known to drop things. But I really love them. They are gorgeous and make tea even more pleasant.

But I realize my fancy cups would work better if I had a teapot to pour from. So to celebrate finishing “Can’t Stop Thinking of That Far Road” I bought myself a 12oz teapot with dragons on it. It’s so small and cute!

Since then I’ve slowly added to my collection. I’ve bought several more tea cups, and been gifted another small teapot,with bunnies! None of my cups match my teapots, but its fun to mix and match.

More recently I’ve been trying to do proper gong fu tea. I have acquired a gawain and tea tray, (and have ordered a fairness cup). I find that this takes more focus to do things properly than I want most of the time, but I’ve started scheduling some times to make gong fu tea and work on my Classical Chinese.

Tea feels like a frivolous hobby, but I like owning pretty things, and I like drinking hot beverages. I use my nice tea things often and they make me happy.

Comments

[ambyr]

I've been eying those Tenmokus cups for a while! But I really prefer drinking my tea in industrial quantities and I'm afraid they wouldn't get used any more than the fancy teacups I already have.

[forestofglory]

That does seem like it might be a problem.

[mific]

Those tenmoku cups are gorgeous! I can appreciate the delicacy of formal tea rituals aesthetically, but tea for me is the stuff of life and I drink loads of it each day so my mugs are more utilitarian. But still pleasing! :)

[jesse_the_k]

I love the combination of ancient patterns and psychedelic colors. Guaranteed to wake one up of a morning.

[forestofglory]

That's a great mug!

[starshipfox]

Those cups are beautiful. I was gifted some porcelain from Limoges for my wedding, and I'm sure the tea tastes better when I drink from them. I thought I did not like tea for many years (but actually it was because I hadn't experienced tea without milk), and have recently discovered I enjoy Yunnan green tea and darjeeling: it's nice to go on a voyage of discovery!

[forestofglory]

Tea really is nicer out of nice cups. I'm glad you are finding teas you like and getting to try new things!

[jesse_the_k]

My jaw actually dropped when I clicked through to Tenmokus. It's the Tiffany stained glass of drinking vessels!

[forestofglory]

That is an excellent comparison!

[lunabee34]

Oh wow. *admires*

I don't know if you read the Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie, but somewhere Kalr Five is writhing in jealousy over those tea bowls (which is a plot thread that moves through the series LOL). Just gorgeous.

[forestofglory]

Oh yes Kalr Five would love Tenmonkus!

Those books do so many interesting things with tea! I love it

[lunabee34]

INORITE? There would be definite swoonage over this set.

[kaberett]

This is such a joy to read - thank you. <3

[forestofglory]

<3