The principle of matching and combining tea sets

The principle of matching and combining tea sets

The matching and combination of tea sets should take into account functional practicality, cultural aesthetics and adaptability to usage scenarios. The following are the core combination principles sorted out from four dimensions: core utensils, auxiliary utensils, materials and craftsmanship, and culture and aesthetics:

First, the integrity and functionality of the core equipment

Tea-making utensils

Teapot/covered bowl: As the core tool for brewing tea, it should be selected according to the type of tea (for example, a glass teapot for green tea is convenient for observation, and a purple clay teapot for oolong tea is conducive to gathering fragrance). The capacity should be suitable for the number of people. For single people drinking tea, it is recommended to have 150-200ml, and for multiple people sharing, more than 300ml is needed.

Fair cup: It is used for evenly distributing tea and should match the capacity of the teapot (for example, if the teapot is 300ml, the fair cup is recommended to be 400ml). The rim of the cup should be designed with a drip-proof structure.

Drinking utensils

Tea cups: The quantity should be configured according to the number of people (usually 1-2 per person), and the capacity is recommended to be 30-80ml. The material should be in harmony with the teapot (for example, a purple clay teapot with a purple clay cup, and a glass teapot with a glass cup).

Cup holder: It is used to hold tea cups to prevent burning hands and enhance the sense of ceremony. The material can match the tea tray (such as a wooden tea tray with a wooden cup holder).

Second, the practicality and convenience of assistive devices

Prepare water and control temperature

Water boiler: Choose an electric kettle or a charcoal stove + iron kettle according to your needs. Ensure heating efficiency and safety (for example, the power of the electric kettle is recommended to be above 1000W, and the charcoal stove needs to be equipped with a wind shield).

Water temperature gauge: For tea that is sensitive to water temperature (such as green tea at 80-85℃ and black tea at 90-95℃), a precise temperature measurement tool should be equipped.

Cleaning and storage

Tea towel: It is used to wipe water stains on the surface of tea sets. It is recommended to have 2-3 pieces (dry and wet separated). The material should have strong water absorption and not shed fibers.

Tea MATS/tea cadings: They are used to hold tea leaves and display their shapes. The capacity should be suitable for the type of tea (for example, if a large amount of loose tea is used, a larger opening is required).

Tea needle/tea tongs: They are used to unclog the spout of the tea pot or pick up tea dregs. It is necessary to ensure that the material is heat-resistant and not easy to deform.

Waste liquid treatment

Tea basin/water basin: It is used to collect wastewater or tea residue, and its capacity should be suitable for the frequency of tea brewing (for example, if multiple people are drinking tea, it is recommended to have more than 500ml).

Third, the coordination between materials and craftsmanship

Material matching

The principle of uniformity: It is recommended that the same set of tea sets be made of no more than three types of materials (such as a purple clay teapot + purple clay cup + bamboo tea tray) to avoid visual clutter.

The principle of complementarity: Different materials can be used in combination (such as a glass teapot + ceramic fair cup + wooden tea tray), and it is necessary to ensure that the color and texture are harmonious.

Process matching

Handcrafted and machine-made: Handcrafted tea sets are more artistic, while machine-made tea sets are more practical and can be matched according to needs (such as handcrafted purple clay teapots with machine-made tea cups).

Surface treatment: It is necessary to ensure that the surface of the tea set is smooth and easy to clean (for example, glazed tea sets should have no pores, and purple clay tea sets should have no chemical glaze).

Fourth, the expressiveness of culture and aesthetics

Theme and Style

Cultural theme: The style of tea sets can be selected based on the school of tea ceremony (such as Zen tea, literati tea) or regional characteristics (such as Japanese tea ceremony, Chinese Gongfu tea).

Decorative elements: The patterns on the tea sets should echo the theme (for example, blue and white porcelain tea sets are suitable for traditional styles, while simple lines are suitable for modern styles).

Colour and Form

Color matching: It is recommended that the main colors do not exceed two (such as black + white, cyan + brown), and the accent colors should be in harmony with the main colors.

The proportion of the shape: The height and diameter of the tea set should conform to ergonomics (for example, the height of the tea cup is recommended to be 4-6cm and the diameter to be 6-8cm).

Fifth, the flexibility of scene adaptation

Home scene

A complete set of tea sets (including a water boiler, tea tray, tea pet, etc.) should be provided, with emphasis on the sense of ceremony and comfort.

Office scene

Simplify the configuration (such as a portable tea set), taking into account both efficiency and aesthetics (such as a quick guest cup + travel tea tray).

Outdoor scene

Lightweight and shock-resistant materials (such as titanium alloy tea sets) should be chosen, and windproof devices (such as folding charcoal stoves + windproof covers) should be provided.