Tea Utensils
By Ron Campbell, Owner of Merkaba
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The traditional implements can be made from the same clay as your teapot, wood, bamboo, glass, ceramic or metal. Utilization of all is not necessary; it’s up to your personal preference.
Please note that these are listed alphabetically, not by order of usage or importance.

Cups - usually very small (about 30ml) are used in Gong Fu ceremonies.

Digger - to dig/drag/pull out the brewed tea leaves from the teapot. Sometimes combined with a needle at the opposite end for clearing.

Dispenser/canister - dry tea leaves to be used for brewing are placed here to appreciate the quality and aroma.

Drip tray - to tray or catch-basin used for the overflow of water and tea during the rinsing, brewing and serving process.

Funnel - for use when the teapot has a small opening.

Gaiwan - The Chinese gaiwan or covered cup is another method for brewing teas with delicate flavors. It has been used in China since about 1350. The gaiwan consists of a saucer, bowl and lid. The lid allows the tea to be infused right in the bowl and either drank right from the bowl or decanted into smaller tasting cups. As the art of using the gaiwan evolved, tea connoisseurs began decanting the infused tea into pitchers and serving it in small tasting cups. It was discovered that during the time it took to sip tea from the gaiwan itself, the tea became over-infused and bitter. Thus, the serving pitcher and tasting cups became an integral part of modern gaiwan usage. Today's tea connoisseurs use the gaiwan as a vessel for steeping most teas. (See the section on “Birthing Your Pot” if you have a new gaiwan).

Kettle - to provide the constant supply of hot water for warming, washing and brewing.

Needle - a probe to clear any tea leaves from the narrow spout of the teapot.

Place mat - one for each tea drinker‘s teacup.

Pots - ideally made from unglazed clay, Yixing teapots are considered best. In imitation of spouted wine earthenware, the first teapots were made at Yixing, near Shanghai during the Ming Dynasty in 1500. Others types are now available in a variety of materials. (See the section on “Birthing Your Pot” if you have a new tea pot).

Serving jug - to ensure that each cup receives equal strength tea, and as a holding container when the teapot needs to be emptied to avoid over steeping.

Shuffle - a scoop, teaspoon or tablespoon that lets you measure the amount of required tea and is used for transferring the dry tea from its storage container to the tea dispenser or teapot.

Thermometer - always useful for controlling water temperature.

Tongs - tongs for picking up hot teacups.

Towel - to wipe up the occasional spills and drips.

Strainer - to filter out small particles that pass through the holes in the teapot’s spout when pouring from the teapot into the serving jug.

Storage Container - It is important that you properly store your tealeaves after you open the packaging. Because teas are susceptible to oxidation, store them in an airtight container in a cool; dry location that keeps the light out.
You do not necessarily have to have to go out and purchase all new and special utensils for your tea ceremonies to get started. And, as mentioned before you do not have to utilize all of the items, just whatever works for you and your individual situation. You may already have some of these items, or substitutes, in your kitchen drawers and cabinets. Yes, I’ll even admit that when starting out I’ve actually boiled water in a sauce pan, used a candy thermometer to test water temperature, even used a paperclip to clean the strainer holes in my tea pot and used a 6“ strainer to pour tea into a 1“cup! Sometimes it just comes down to whatever gets you through!

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Ron Campbell and his wife Kathy own and operate Merkaba, which features a wide variety of teas and tea items, and gifts for all your spiritual and cultural needs. Their teas come from all over the world and include organic herbal teas, healing teas, Yerba Mate, green teas, black teas, oolong, white teas, pu-erh, flavored tisanes, chai teas, flavored and blended teas. You'll find all kinds of tea products including filters, thermometers, tea bag squeezers, tea cozies, gourds, tea pots and tea sets, mugs and cups, mesh tea infusers, bombilla and even coffee and tea scoops. For more information about Merkaba's retail shop in Idyllwild, CA, or online store visit: http://www.southwestblend.com/merkaba/index.htm