Ashen Silk Dividing Cup
€40,00
Sale price
€40,00
Regular price
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Ashen Silk Dividing Cup
€40,00
Sale price
€40,00
Regular price
A Testament to Nature's Cycle
In the mindful progression of the tea ceremony, the dividing cup ensures each guest receives the exact same infusion, honoring both the tea leaf and the company gathered around the table.
Standing tall with a quiet, graceful posture, this handmade ceramic vessel brings an element of ancient alchemy to your modern tea ritual. Its clean, cylindrical form features a meticulously shaped spout for a precise, dripless pour, allowing the golden tea soup to cascade smoothly into your tasting cups.
The Ancient Art of Plant Ash Glaze (草木灰)
This vessel's defining feature is its finish—a traditional plant ash glaze (草木灰釉).
Plant ash glazing is one of the oldest and most organic glazing techniques in the history of ceramics. It is crafted by harvesting the ashes of burnt wood, straw, or ferns, which are then refined and blended into the liquid glaze. When subjected to the intense heat of the kiln, the natural minerals within the ash melt and fuse with the clay.
The result is a soft, semi-matte surface that possesses a gentle, jade-like luster. It feels warm and organic to the touch, carrying subtle, natural variations that synthetic glazes simply cannot replicate. Using a plant ash glaze is a poetic celebration of nature’s cycle—transforming fallen branches and leaves into a beautiful, enduring vessel for your tea table.
Specifications & Features
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Name: The Ashen Silk Cup
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Material: Handmade ceramic with a natural plant ash glaze (草木灰釉)
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Design: An elegant, taller profile with a precision spout for a clean pour
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Capacity: 280ml
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Dimensions: Mouth diameter 8cm | Height 9cm
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Weight: 195g
(Note: Due to the handmade nature of this item and the organic firing process of the plant ash glaze, slight variations in texture, color, and measurement are a natural part of its unique character.)
Manufacturing and stories behind the craft
Our products are manufactured both locally and globally. We carefully select our manufacturing partners to ensure our products are high quality and a fair value.
A Gongfu Cha Brewing Guide
Gongfu Cha (literally "making tea with skill") is an intentional, mindful approach to brewing Chinese tea.
By using a high leaf-to-water ratio and shorter, precise infusions, Gongfu brewing allows you to witness how a single leaf evolves across multiple, distinct cups.
The Anatomy of Gongfu Teaware: Core Vessels
A traditional Gongfu setup relies on a few key vessels, each playing a specific role in managing temperature, extraction, and sharing:
- The Teapot (or Gaiwan): The Crucible of ExtractionFunction: This is where the magic happens. Whether it is a porous clay teapot (which rounds out edges and retains heat) or a porcelain gaiwan (which neutralizes flavor and preserves pure aromatics), the brewing vessel controls the extraction. Its small capacity ensures that water contacts the leaves quickly and uniformly, allowing you to stop the brew at the exact second required.
- The Dividing Cup (Cha Hai / Fairness Cup): The EqualizerFunction: Tea cannot be poured directly from a teapot into individual cups all at once, or the first cup will be weak and light while the last cup will be dark and bitter. Pouring the brewed tea entirely into the dividing cup first "levels" the liquor, ensuring every guest receives an identical strength, color, and taste. It also stops the brewing process instantly by removing the liquid from the leaves.
- The Tea Cup (Pin Ming Bei / Tasting Cup): The ReceiverFunction: Small in size, these cups are designed to cool the tea quickly to a temperature safe for drinking while concentrating the aromatics against the rim. In traditional settings, they are often paired with a tall Wen Xiang Bei (aroma cup) to catch and trap the rising volatile oils of the leaf before you sip.
Care Guide: Handmade Ceramic Teaware
Your handmade ceramic teapot and teacups are living vessels crafted to enhance every brewing session. To preserve their natural clay surface, thermal integrity, and gentle seasoning over time, please follow this simple care routine.
1. Daily Cleaning Routine
Use Baking Soda & Warm Water:
To clean your teapot and cups, rinse them with warm water and gently scrub with a soft cloth or sponge using a pinch of baking soda. Baking soda naturally lifts tea stains and absorbs oils without leaving behind artificial fragrances or chemical residues.
Strictly No Dish Soap:
Never use dish soap, liquid detergent, or abrasive chemical cleaners. Ceramic clay, especially porous or unglazed ware, can absorb soap fragrances, permanently altering the taste and aroma of your future tea infusions.
2. Dishwasher Warning
Do Not Use the Dishwasher:
Handmade ceramics are not dishwasher safe. Dishwashers rely on aggressive liquid or detergent pods containing dish soap, high-pressure water jets, and rapid thermal fluctuations that can crack, chip, or permanently taint your teaware. Always hand wash gentle and mindfully.
3. Drying & Storage
Air-Dry Completely:
After washing, gently pat the exterior dry with a clean linen towel. Allow the teapot (with the lid off) and teacups to air-dry completely in a well-ventilated area before storing.
Prevent Mold & Moisture:
Never store teaware while still damp. Trapped moisture inside a dark cabinet, packaging box, or closed teapot can lead to mold and musty odors within the clay pores. Store your pieces on open shelving or in a dry, dust-free environment once 100% dry.
Shipping
We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location. Normal processing time is 1-3 days. Shipping time varies between 5-15 working days. If you have special requests for fast delivery, contact our customer support and we can look into the order to try to arrange it for you. A higher shipping cost and extra payment for the shipping price difference might apply.
Contact us: teabyyuan@gmail.com