Porcelain tea set is made of porcelain clay (mainly kaolin). It was invented and used after ceramic tea set Porcelain requires a higher baking temperature than ceramics. At 1200 C, the porcelain body becomes solid and compact. Coated with glaze, the porcelain surface does not absorb water or give any peculiar smell and can be easily washed clean. Porcelain has beautiful design and exquisite decoration and can better retain the color, aroma, and taste of the tea. In addition, porcelain can properly preserve heat. It does not bum your hand or crack under heat. It is the most widely used tea set
Based on the color of the glaze, porcelain tea set can be divided into celadon tea set, white porcelain tea set, black porcelain set, and faience tea set.
Celadon Tea Set
Coated with green glaze, celadon is a major type of porcelain produced in China. Celadon was first produced in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and the product at that time had pure color and a transparent and luminous appearance. In the Jin Dynasty (265-420), Yue Kiln, Wu Kiln, and Ou Kiln had been in large scale. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the celadon tea set produced in Ge Kiln in Longquan, Zhejiang Province, one of the top five kilns at that time, reached its zenith and was sold to many places far and near. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), celadon tea set gained great fame at home and abroad depending on its fine and smooth texture, stately design, glistening glaze, and elegant pattern.
White Porcelain Tea Set
Coated with white glaze, white porcelain grows out of celadon and is one of traditional Chinese porcelains. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), white porcelain was called Fake White Jade. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), many kilns have been engaged in producing white porcelain tea set. Among them are Xing Kiln in Renqiu of Hebei Province, Yue Kiln in Yuyao of Zhejiang Province, Changsha Kiln in Hunan Province, and Dayi Kiln in Sichuan Province. The most famous is the white porcelain tea set produced in Jingdezhen of Jiangxi Province, which has been well-known worldwide. Jingdezhen white porcelain is as white as snow, as thin as paper, and as clear as mirror. In addition, its sound is as pleasing to the ear as the chime stone. The earliest white porcelain tea set had a light yellowish brown body. Its glaze was milk white tinted with greenish yellow. The glaze accumulation is green and the glaze coating is thin and looks moist. With a sparkling white color and delicate and graceful design, white porcelain tea set has a high value in artistic appreciation. Meanwhile, its pure white texture can better set off the color of various tea soups. Finally, it performs well in heat transmission and preservation. It is indeed a rare utensil for tea drinking.
Black Porcelain Tea Set
Black porcelain is coated with black glaze. It appeared in Late Tang Dynasty (618-907) and gained great fame in the Song Dynasy (960-1279) due to the tea contest popular at that time. Dunng the contest, the judges first examined the color and evenness of the tea soup bloom on the surface. The fresh white one was the best. Then, they examined whether there was water trace between the soup bloom and the teacup wall and when it appeared. The tea producing no water trace was the best. Black porcelain teacup was the best for tea contest. Therefore, it was the dominant porcelain tea set variety in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Black porcelain tea set was mainly produced by Jian Kiln in Fujian Province, Jizhou Kiln in Jiangxi Province, and Yuci Kiln in Shanxi Province. Of them, Jian teacup produced by Jian Kiln was praised as the best.
Faience Tea Set
There are many kinds of faience tea sets. Of them, the blue and white porcelain tea set, especially that produced in Jingdezhen of Jiangxi Province, is the best and the most famous. In ancient China, black, blue, and green were all referred to as blue. Therefore, the meaning of blue and white was more extensive at that time. The great feature of blue and white porcelain is its blue and white grains. With the porcelain-making techniques getting better and better, new varieties of faience have appeared, including the Red in Blue and White Glaze and the Blue and White with Overglaze Colors.