The history of the tea cup and the materials used to make it are as diverse as the cultures that have enjoyed tea throughout the centuries. Dating back to 618–907 AD, the Tang Dynasty in China, it was at that time when the first cups of tea started to appear and slowly gain popularity. Before this time, cups were handmade out of stone, clay, silver, gold, and were used as drinking vessels for many purposes rather than solely for drinking tea.
As Japanese scholar and art critic, Kakuzo Okakuro, mentioned in his "The Book of Tea", the influence of tea on Chinese ceramics was and is, in fact, a fascinating aspect of cultural history. It led to the development of Celestial porcelain, which originated from attempts to mimic the delicate shade of jade. Luwuh, a prominent figure in Chinese history and a famous tea master known as the Sage of Tea, believed that the blue glaze enhanced the greenness of the tea, while the white glaze made it appear pinkish and less appealing, particularly when using cake-tea. Subsequently, during the Sung Dynasty, when powdered tea (such as matcha) became popular, tea masters preferred heavy bowls of blue-black and dark brown color made from ceramics for their tea. In contrast, during the Ming Dynasty, people started to favor steeped tea, and consequently, lightware made of white porcelain. During the Ming Dynasty, teaware became much more sophisticated, and up until now, porcelain remains one of the best materials for teaware and specifically, tea cups. This evolution reflects how tea preferences influenced the aesthetics and production of Chinese ceramics over time.
At the same time, many countries nowadays use various materials in crafting tea cups. However, the most popular choices today remain ceramic, glass, and porcelain.
All three materials have a long history and were used for various purposes, but the popularity of each material for making tea cups gradually evolved alongside the development of tea drinking culture across the world. Ceramic cups were very popular in China and later Japan, where powdered tea and other types of green tea were enjoyed, as ceramics do not interfere with the taste of the tea and thus allow one to enjoy the full tapestry of the tea in such cups.
Although glassware and glass as a material have been used throughout history, tea cups made of this material gained popularity slightly later. As of now, glass tea cups are used in many countries, being an inseparable part of their culture. For example, in Turkey and Morocco, tea is served in special tulip-shaped and cylindrical glasses respectively, which are often associated with these countries. Similar to ceramic cups, glass cups have the advantage of not affecting the taste and rich aroma of the beverage. Moreover, one can see the tea's vibrant color and enjoy the aesthetics of tea drinking in such cups.
However, both ceramic and glass have one disadvantage: unlike porcelain, which gained popularity and sophistication later in history, these materials do not retain heat as effectively. Porcelain tea cups originated in China during the Tang Dynasty but reached the height of their popularity during the Ming Dynasty and beyond, were and are now prized for their thinness, translucency, and excellent heat retention. Initially reserved for royalty and the elite, they eventually became more accessible to the public.
As tea made its journey from East to West, a variety of teaware made from different materials found its way to England and European continent, with porcelain emerging as a favorite among the populace. While tea cups in Asia were initially crafted without handles, it was in England and Europe that the tradition of crafting elaborate tea sets, complete with handles and saucers, became most prevalent, shaping the way tea was enjoyed in these regions.n 1748, the Anglo-Irish artist Thomas Frye elevated the significance of porcelain in Western tea culture by introducing Bone China. This unique blend, incorporating animal bone ash—usually from cows—resulted in a stronger and more elegant material texture. It quickly gained favor among European tea drinkers, spreading its influence to other regions, including the Russian Empire, where Imperial Porcelain emerged as one of the world's most renowned brands. As of now, Bone China and its variations are considered to be among the best materials for tea cup production due to excellent heat retention, no effect of the material on the flavor of the beverage, and the elegance and aesthetics of the teaware.
Today, the choice between glass, ceramic, or porcelain cups for drinking tea depends on individual preferences. While different countries favor various materials, the decision often revolves around the aesthetic appeal of the cup. However, understanding the evolution of tea cups is crucial as it unveils the role of these vessels as tangible records of cultural evolution.
Commentaires