Chinese Teaware & Gongfu Tea Sets
The right teaware is an essential part of the Chinese tea experience. From a simple gaiwan and a few cups to a complete Gongfu tea ceremony setup, each piece has its own purpose and influences the way tea is prepared, served, and enjoyed.
At Mounttea, we select both practical everyday teaware and distinctive pieces for tea enthusiasts and collectors — including Yixing clay teapots, handmade tea cups, porcelain and glass teaware, Gongfu accessories, and complete Chinese tea sets.
Some pieces are unique and handmade, while others are carefully selected everyday tools designed for regular tea sessions.
Teaware for Gongfu Tea Ceremony
Gongfu Cha (功夫茶) is the traditional Chinese approach to preparing tea with a relatively high proportion of leaves and a series of short infusions.
A Gongfu tea set can be very simple or elaborate.
For a basic setup, you only need a gaiwan or teapot, fairness pitcher, and tea cups. Additional tools such as a tea tray, tea strainer, tea towel, Cha He, tea utensils, and tea pets can gradually become part of your tea space.
Different materials also create different experiences.
Porcelain gaiwans are versatile and excellent for exploring almost any tea. Glass teaware allows you to observe the leaves and liquor, while Yixing clay teapots are traditionally appreciated for brewing particular styles of Chinese tea over time.
Essential Chinese Teaware
Here are some of the traditional pieces and accessories you may encounter when building a Chinese tea ceremony set:
• Cha Ban (茶板, chábǎn) — tea tray or tea table used during Gongfu brewing
• Cha Chi (茶池, cháchí) — “tea pond”, an alternative style of tea tray or brewing platform
• Cha Hu (茶壶, cháhú) — teapot; often used when referring to traditional Chinese teapots, including Yixing clay teapots
• Gaiwan (盖碗, gàiwǎn) — lidded brewing bowl and one of the most versatile pieces of Chinese teaware
• Cha He (茶荷, cháhé) — tea presentation vessel used to observe and smell dry tea leaves
• Cha Hai (茶海, cháhǎi) / Gong Dao Bei (公道杯, gōngdàobēi) — fairness pitcher used to distribute brewed tea evenly between cups
• Cha Bei (茶杯, chábēi) — Chinese tea cup
• Wen Xiang Bei (闻香杯, wénxiāngbēi) — aroma cup traditionally used for appreciating fragrance
• Pin Ming Bei (品茗杯, pǐnmíngbēi) — tasting cup used for drinking tea
• Cha Ju (茶具, chájù) — tea utensils or a general term for a set of teaware
• Cha Lü Wang (茶滤网, chálǜwǎng) — tea strainer
• Pu-erh Cha Dao (普洱茶刀, pǔ’ěr chádāo) — Pu-erh tea knife for separating compressed tea
• Cha Zhui Zi (茶锥子, chá zhuīzi) — tea pick or awl for compressed tea
• Cha Bu / Cha Jin (茶布 / 茶巾) — tea cloth or tea towel
• Cha Chong (茶宠, cháchǒng) — tea pet, a decorative figure traditionally kept on the tea tray
• Yang Hu Bi (养壶笔, yǎnghú bǐ) — teapot brush used with clay teaware
• Cha Ye Guan (茶叶罐, cháyèguàn) — tea storage jar or tea caddy
You do not need all of these tools to start brewing Chinese tea. A quality gaiwan, Gong Dao Bei, and several tea cups are enough to create a functional Gongfu setup.
Yixing Teapots, Gaiwans & Chinese Tea Cups
Our teaware collection includes pieces for both beginners and experienced tea drinkers.
Explore Yixing clay teapots for traditional Gongfu brewing, versatile porcelain gaiwans, glass teapots, handmade Chinese tea cups, fairness pitchers, tea trays, tea storage, and accessories.
When choosing teaware, consider not only its appearance but also the tea you plan to brew, the number of people drinking, and the volume of the vessel.
Smaller teapots and gaiwans are particularly useful for Gongfu brewing, where the same tea leaves are infused repeatedly and their character develops from one infusion to the next.
Buy Chinese Teaware in Lisbon & Portugal
Looking to buy Chinese teaware, a Gongfu tea set, Yixing teapot, gaiwan, or Chinese tea cups in Lisbon?
Explore the Mounttea collection online or visit us in Lisbon to see selected teaware in person.
We offer Chinese teaware and tea ceremony accessories with same-day delivery available in Lisbon and delivery across Portugal.
You can also visit MOUNTTEA x LOVA, Rua de São Marçal 1C, 1200-418 Lisboa, Portugal, where you can discover our selection of Chinese tea and Gongfu teaware.
Whether you are assembling your first Chinese tea ceremony set or looking for a unique handmade piece for your collection, Mounttea brings together Chinese tea, teaware, and Gongfu tea culture in Lisbon.
