Tea Terms Glossary: Key Difficult Tea Ware Terms Explained

Explore a concise glossary of some of the more difficult or easily confused tea ware terms to enhance your TEA SET knowledge. For a complete guide to a full TEA SET, see Complete TEA SET Guide.

• Gaiwan: (a lidded bowl used in Gongfu tea, composed of lid, cup, and saucer, 盖碗) Essential for Gongfu tea. The lid represents Heaven, the saucer represents Earth, and the bowl itself represents Human, symbolizing the harmony of Heaven, Earth, and Human. Can also be described as “Three Talents” (heaven/lid, human/cup, earth/saucer) or “Two Talents” (heaven/lid, human/cup).
• Diao: (a traditional Chinese tea kettle for boiling water and brewing tea, 铫) This shape is also seen in modern teapots, tea fair cups, and other tea vessels.
• Chai Shao: (a high-temperature firing technique over 1000°C for ceramics, 柴烧) Influences both appearance and quality. Important for Yixing Zisha teapots and Jingdezhen porcelain, with different effects: Zisha emphasizes natural beauty, Jingdezhen focuses on surface and finish.
• Gongdao Bei: (a fairness cup used to balance tea strength, filter leaves, and cool tea, 公道杯) Also reflects the “fairness” spirit and etiquette in tea serving.
• Zisha / Zini: (Yixing purple clay / a type of raw purple clay, 紫砂 / 紫泥) Zisha refers to all Yixing purple clay; Zini is a specific category of the local clay. They are distinct and should not be confused.
• Yixing Zisha Teapot: (classic unglazed clay teapot from Yixing, 宜兴紫砂壶) Renowned for its natural beauty and ability to enhance tea aroma over time.
• Dehua Porcelain: (white porcelain from Dehua, 德化白瓷) Elegant, smooth, and highly refined; often used for formal tea sets.
• Chawan / Matcha Bowl: (bowl used for Japanese powdered tea, 抹茶碗) Designed specifically for whisking and drinking matcha; not typically used for leaf tea.
• Tea Strainer / Tea Filter: (used to filter leaves when pouring, 茶滤) Ensures a clear tea infusion and prevents leaves from entering cups.

Written by PineG, Founder of TeaCask