Distinctive ancient seal script: the front face of the cup is carved with the character Tea (茶) in seal script, elegant, dignified and steeped in antiquity. Cup design no. 1 carries the verse
Sitting to draw a dipper of clear, cool spring water,
Watching the tea dust and froth ripple and murmur as it boils.
For no reason at all, I simply wish to raise this cup of tea,
To send my heart out to all who love tea as I do.
Cup design no. 2 carries the verse
The first cup soothes the throat,
The second drives away sorrow and loneliness.
The first sip sweeps away drowsiness and languor,
Another sip leaves the spirit serene and clear-minded.
Exquisite calligraphic engraving: Surrounding the central character for Tea are lines of classical verse in praise of the pleasure of tea, incised entirely by hand. The strokes are graceful and crisp, picked out in noble gold and paired with a red seal to form a whole that is rustic in character yet refined.
A dense, fine, breathable body: The cup is made from the distinctive clay deposits along the Qin River (Guangxi) – one of the four great ceramic traditions of China. Fired at high temperature, the ware is exceptionally dense and hard, smooth to the touch, and outstanding at retaining heat.
Honouring the purity of the liquor: The microporous structure of Nixing clay softens the water and takes the harsh edge off the astringency on the tip of the tongue, making the liquor sweet and smooth and holding its aroma far longer than an ordinary porcelain cup.
One-of-a-kind kiln-transformed beauty: The cup is unglazed, with no oxide coating whatsoever. Its smoky purple-brown tone with a soft sheen is the natural result of kiln transformation during firing. The more it is used and nourished with tea, the more it develops a lustrous "baojiang" patina, rich in colour and glossy as jade.
A well-judged 90ml capacity: The ideal size for gongfu tea drinking. It holds just enough for the drinker to admire the colour of the liquor and to sip slowly, taking in every layer of aroma and flavour without the tea going cold.
A poised low-cylinder form: The cup is designed as a low cylinder with thick walls, so heat spreads evenly and it never becomes too hot to hold. The interior is moderately deep and wide, showing off the colour of the tea beautifully.
All products are in stock and on display in our shops.
