tea tools that complete the setup. What are all these little instruments for? This guide will introduce you to the most essential gongfu tea accessories, explaining their names and functions, and helping you build your perfect kung fu tea kit.
Complete Your Kung Fu Tea Kit: A Guide to Essential Accessories
A well-executed Gongfu session is a smooth, graceful, and hygienic process. This is made possible by a range of specialized tea tools. What are gongfu tea tools? They are the supporting cast that makes the whole performance shine. From measuring leaves to handling hot cups, each accessory has a specific purpose. This guide will demystify them for you.
The “Cha Dao” Set: The Six Gentlemen of Tea
Often, many of the essential tools are sold together in a matching set called a Cha Dao Liu Junzi (茶道六君子), or “The Six Gentlemen of the Way of Tea.” What is a Cha Dao set? It is the foundational toolkit for any serious tea brewer.
Cha Ze (茶则) – The Tea Scoop
(Chinese: 茶则) This is a long, elegant scoop used to present the dry tea leaves to your guests and to measure them into the brewing vessel. It ensures you don’t touch the delicate leaves with your hands.
Cha Zhen (茶针) – The Tea Needle/Pick
(Chinese: 茶针) The tea needle has a simple but crucial job: to clear the spout of your teapot if it becomes clogged with leaves, ensuring a smooth and steady pour every time.
Cha Lou (茶漏) – The Tea Funnel
(Chinese: 茶漏) This is a small funnel that is placed on the mouth of a teapot. It prevents small leaves from spilling onto your tea tray as you fill the pot, keeping the process neat and tidy.
Cha Jia (茶夹) – The Tea Tongs
(Chinese: 茶夹) These are wooden or bamboo tongs used to handle hot teacups after rinsing them, so you don’t have to touch them with your fingers. They are a key tool for hygiene and grace.
Cha Chi (茶匙) – The Tea Spoon
(Chinese: 茶匙) This is a small, specialized spoon used to help scoop the now wet, expanded tea leaves out of the teapot at the end of your session.
Cha Tong (茶筒) – The Tool Holder
(Chinese: 茶筒) This is the vase-like container that holds all the other “gentlemen” together, keeping your tea table organized and elegant.
Essential Tools Beyond the Cha Dao Set
Beyond the “Six Gentlemen,” there are a few other indispensable gongfu tea accessories.
Cha Pan (茶盘) – The Tea Tray
The tea tray is your stage. It’s a tray, often made of bamboo or wood, with a built-in reservoir to catch all the excess water from rinsing cups and warming the pot. It is arguably the most essential accessory after the pot and cups.
Cha Jin (茶巾) – The Tea Towel
A highly absorbent tea towel is used to wipe up any spills and to dry the bottom of your cups and pitcher before serving. It is a simple but vital tool for maintaining a clean and elegant tea space.
Yang Hu Bi (养壶笔) – The Teapot Nurturing Brush
For those who use Yixing clay teapots, this soft-bristled brush is used to evenly distribute leftover tea over the surface of the pot. This helps in “raising the pot” and developing a beautiful, even patina over time.
Are All These Accessories Really Necessary?
Are all these accessories necessary? As with any craft, you can get started with the basics and add more tools as you go deeper.
The Bare Essentials for a Beginner
For a true beginner, the absolute essentials beyond a pot and cups are a fairness cup (Gong Dao Bei) and a tea tray (Cha Pan). These two items will make the biggest immediate improvement to your brewing sessions.
The Next Level: Accessories for the Enthusiast
Once you are comfortable with the basics, investing in a full Cha Dao set is the next logical step. These tools will make your process more precise, hygienic, and aesthetically pleasing, truly elevating your ritual.
** The Details That Elevate the Ritual**
The beauty of the Gongfu tea ceremony lies in its attention to detail. These small, specialized tea tools are not just for show; each one serves a purpose that contributes to a more graceful, clean, and ultimately more mindful brewing experience. By understanding and using these gongfu tea accessories, you transform a simple act into a true art form.
Every tool has its purpose, and together they create a seamless and elegant brewing experience. Ready to complete your set? .
FAQ: Your Gongfu Tea Accessories Questions Answered
What is the most important accessory to buy after a pot and cups?
The most important is a fairness cup (Gong Dao Bei) to ensure your brew is consistent, followed closely by a tea tray (Cha Pan) to manage water and keep your space clean. These two items provide the most significant functional upgrades.
Do I need a special tea needle for a puerh cake?
The small tea needle (cha zhen) in a Cha Dao set is for clearing spouts. To break apart a compressed Puerh cake, you need a larger, more robust tool called a Puerh pick or knife (cha dao). They are two different tools for two different jobs.
What are the different materials for tea trays?
Tea trays are most commonly made from bamboo, which is lightweight and beautiful. You can also find them made from various types of wood, stone, or ceramic. The choice is largely a matter of aesthetic preference and budget.
Where can I buy a complete Kung Fu tea kit?
Where can I buy a complete Kung Fu tea kit? A specialized vendor is your best choice. At , we offer not only individual teapots and cups but also curated kung fu tea kits