La boîte à thé

A late birth

Since the history of tea is of several thousand years, one would imagine that the history of teapot too is as old as well, back to the time before Christ. But this is not the case: the teapot made its first appearances several centuries ago, certainly, but no for a full millennium. It is by searching in texts related to the Yuan Dynasty (13th-14th century) that we find the first mention of a teapot. Previously, the Tang Dynasty was boiling molded tea in a cauldron, pouring it then into bowls. The Song Dynasty, used to put the molded tea directly into service bowls and poured boiling water. Does that remind you a little of gestures of soluble coffee?

So it is with the Yuan dynasty that the teapot was born, loosely based on wine jugs of olden days, it is at this period that the tradition of precise infusion was born. For a flavored tea reveals much better flavors in a teapot! Once established, the teapot has never lost its relevance. From the next dynasty, the teapot was a common object, popular and appreciated. Thus, if the bowl (and therefore the Gaiwan) first made their appearance once the teapot came to life, she never went out of the spotlight.

A historic teapot: The Yixing teapot

The first officially recognized teapot goes under the name of "Yixing". Its color immediately catches attention: the Yixing teapot is made of red or purple clay. Over time, artists and potters began to paint these teapots, always making them more pleasing to the eye and thus not only giving them a useful function, but also decoration. Many also are encrusted with silver and gold: the Yixing teapot also suddenly became an object of admiration and envy.

Small history on the development of our teapots

The first teapots were born in China in the Yuan Dynasty. Before this age, we could do without it. Without the teapot, we boiled water and poured it into a bowl - the tea was added in directly in the cauldron or bowl, and each partial solution had its drawbacks. Yuan adapted wine containers to facilitate the preparation of tea, and in the next dynasty, teapots were a universal and beloved accessory. The oldest preserved teapot date from 1513 - it is exposed in the Flagstaff Museum in Hong Kong, specifically in its "Museum of Tea Accessories" section. We know: you're burning with the desire to go there!
At the time, teapots were very small - their function was then to infuse tea for a single portion, not repeating the infusion repeated steps. It is said that the Oriental tea drinkers drank out of the spout. Teapots are rarely so small in our time, their role being to keep tea warm (this works best when the volume is high). Furthermore, given the social function of tea - tea time or the Japanese tea ceremony - it is not surprising that a container of larger infusion is preferred so that tea can be shared rather than just prepared for one person.

The aesthetics of a teapot

The shape of the teapot has become a symbol in itself. It varies widely - elongating or blistering at taste - but no matter the changes, it remains recognizable by its beak and curved end, its handle and lid. Teapots materials also vary. When tea was gaining popularity in Europe, it was a porcelain teapot that was associated with it, because tea was a luxury, and imported porcelain symbolized that luxury. Today, porcelain is the material of choice, as well as ceramics and silver. Glass is also a great material, especially when you infuse flower tea or colored tea (tea with raspberries, mint tea, tea blueberry, etc.)

Tea infusers have a little broken history. Dynasty after dynasty, China did not think about it. Necessity being the mother of invention, it appears that the Chinese did not need it: they just poured their hot water over the tea leaves, leaving the leaves swell and infuse water from the teapot. Instead of infusing, the Chinese invented accessories to remove the leaves.
It was in Britain that the infusers emerged and their popularity exploded in the late 19th - early 20th century. However, when a merchant named Sullivan sold tea in silk bags, disposable tea bags were invented and gained popularity in the market.

Disposable bag or infuser?

Teas sold in bags have mixtures and pre-decided amounts, and most of the time, these individual disposable bags comprise venting tea rather that the leaves themselves. It is possible to buy individual disposable infuser paper ... but with the return of loose tea, Chinese or here, infusers are increasingly fashionable. They control the desired quantities and produce a well-brewed tea - without having to sift, sort, or provide issues fishing the floating particles following the infusion. Practical and useful!

Freedom of Choice

Another reason behind the new "boom" of tea infusers: the impressive array of shapes and different looks. Although tea infusers may be very common (metal mesh balls, for example), you will find fun and original variations. Infusers surmounted by shark fins or by a plastic duck with infusers having the effigy of animals or humans taking a dip in your cup, these infusers are not only useful: they are pleasing, perfect to offer as a gift. Who would not melt immediately in front of their unusual charm?

When talking about tea Accessory, talking about a teacup is obvious, unmistakable, it even creates expressions around the subject ("It's not my cup of tea") whose origin is then forgotten.
Yet, there are several characteristics to that cup of tea! Its forms and materials have evolved since the first models were fashioned in clay, a marvel of Oriental pottery dating back centuries before the year 0.

When talking about tea Accessory, talking about a teacup is obvious, unmistakable, it even creates expressions around the subject ("It's not my cup of tea") whose origin is then forgotten.
Yet, there are several characteristics to that cup of tea! Its forms and materials have evolved since the first models were fashioned in clay, a marvel of Oriental pottery dating back centuries before the year 0.

The Japanese and Chinese tea cup

Chatting around a cup of tea
It is often said that the cup of tea we know was developed from that of the East. Now the teacup as conceived in Asian territory is very different from what we know. First, it is very small, tiny in front of our modern coffee mug and thermos. At most, China tea cup contains 30 ml of liquid. This means pouring often - but also that the tea cools faster.

Another feature of the Oriental cup of tea is that it does not possess a handle. No handle to gracefully lift the cup between two pinched fingers. Apparently, this absence would have a practical function: that of checking, without burning the tip of the tongue, if the tea is cool enough for drinking. If you cannot hold the cup without burning yourself, it is obvious that it is better not to soak our lips in it! Patience, patience.

In the European Far West (and soon the rest of the world):

If the Oriental antiques teacups (or rather, tea bowls!) were fashioned from ceramic or porcelain, the historical records are uncertain about the biggest influences on the famous English tea. Inspired by Asia, Europeans first drank from these tea bowls without handles, the handles came later. Others say that the French already drank their tea in cups of wood. When tea became popular among the British, it was the rich who were privileged, and so appeared the pretty china cups with delicate flower motifs.
Today, these traditional cups are always used, each attracting different tea lovers. Daily, tea drinkers do not hesitate to infuse tea in the first cup that falls into their hands. But for ritual or collection, a typical cup always produces a striking effect.

The history of tea is a long story of love, through centuries, dynasties and continents. Just as there are books dedicated to the history of tea, you will find tea services and teapots in museums. This shows how tea is part of the tradition! If traditional accessories vary slightly from country to country, the fact remains that when we think of "traditional accessory", we rather imagine the pretty teapot ancestry rather than the electric tea heaters and D.E.L. lights!

Tea Boxes:

One must keep his tea somewhere! If today, individual packages are very common, it must be remembered that this is a fairly recent phenomenon. In yesteryear, one kept his tea leaves in a tin containers, lacquered wood, porcelain, ceramic - or even aluminum.

Gaiwan:

The Gaiwan is a typical tea accessory from China. In fact, there is a covered cup to better infuse the delicate teas (like white or green tea) than a teapot. The Gaiwan can be used for any type of tea, though. As the infusion container is less bulky, water also cools faster.

Yuzumashi:

This accessory is a Japanese classic. It can have a very simplistic look, a little like a gravy boat, but can also take an elegant or cute appearances in different materials and colors. Its role: to help cool the water after boiling, to arrive at the proper infusing temperature!

Chasen:

Halfway between the kitchen whisk and the garden rake, the Chasen is traditionally made of bamboo and used to whisk the matcha. In Japan, matcha has a range of traditional accessories: spoon matcha (chashaku), the appointed box (Natsume), and of course the chasen and the Tate Chasen, where one rests chasen.