If you’ve ever bought an iPhone, or even an Apple mouse, you’ll understand this: Opening the box is part of the experience. The ultimate in sophisticated design, the box itself is fashioned so that it opens slowly, requiring a bit of effort, which heightens the anticipation.

Many Chinese Tea Set producers also understand the delight of presentation. Take, for instance, this set, loaned to me by a TeaHaus friend:

This elegant gray box with spare artwork is appealing. Lifting the box cover reveals an equally striking protective layer, with red and gray flipped:

And the tea set itself—a Shang Shan Buo Shui set (“goodness is like water,” from what I can gather), according to the box’s enclosure—nestles into gold fabric.

This eight-piece set by Heng Fu Tea Mill (“forever fortune” Tea Mill) is sophisticated and elegant. The Tea Mill was established in 1998, with research and development centers in Guangzhous and Beijing. According to the China Supplier Directory, the company marries “creation, design and tea culture.”

And that it does.

This little Porcelain Tea Set is impeccably made. The teapot lid fits exactly and the pot pours beautifully.

The small stylish elements are simple yet sleek. I think that the smooth glaze, clean lines, and understated details nicely conform to the mid-century-modern aesthetic (I don’t know when this set was made).

In the past, I’ve looked at several Asian-made tea sets that were intended for a western market. This one differs in several respects.

1. Filter. The teapot does come with a convenient removable stainless steel filter, which may be a concession to western brewing and drinking practices or for small-leaf teas. However, the spout also has a built-in filter that allows larger tea leaves to be brewed loose in the pot for maximum flavor.

2. Pitcher. While western-style sets often come with a sugar and creamer, this one includes a tea pitcher or decanting vessel. When brewing is complete, the tea is poured from the teapot into the pitcher, and from there into the tasting cups. This mixes the tea and ensures that everyone gets the same thing. This practice also prevents over-brewing because the pot is completely emptied when brewing is complete. In addition, it allows the technique of brewing lots of leaves for very short amounts of time, and then re-brewing those same leaves repeatedly.

3. Size. Western-style teapots and teacups are often quite large whereas these are very small. The pot holds only 5 ounces and each cup 1 ounce, which is 2 tablespoons (or 6 teaspoons). For comparison, a vintage child’s teacup from Japan (see my last post) holds 5 teaspoons.

4. Style. The decoration does not pander to western styles. The seal that’s cut into the body of the pieces is, unfortunately, indecipherable to me except for what I can glean through Google Translate. The three feet on each cup and the pot are ruyi feet.

According to Wikipedia:

A ruyi  is a Chinese curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore. The “ruyi” image frequently appears as a motif in Asian art.

Ruyi translates to “as desired/as you wish” (Jie Zhu and Mueller 2023) and the pattern’s “implied meaning . . . is auspicious and wishful. . . . [and] its unique form . . . means everything goes well” (Jun Han et al. 2021).

This traditional Chinese pattern seems to be fairly common once you recognize it, here a motif on a dragon teacup.

Jun Han and colleagues even consider the history and symbolism of ruyi in relation to its use on an interlocking belt buckle, one that appears to be made of plastic, like the quick-side-release ones used on backpack straps!

I love the clean lines and timeless style of this tea set—and I love how it incorporates meaning. Drinking tea together strengthens social bonds and enhances well-being, and this little tea set does all it can to heighten that experience.

Sources:
–China Supplier Directory, “Guangzhou Hengfu Tea Mill Corp. Ltd.,” accessed 8/1/23.
–Jie Zhu and S. Mueller, “Scratching the itch,” Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 4/17/23.
–Jun Han, Yangyang Jiang, and Jun Li, “Research on the application of Chinese traditional pattern ‘ruyi pattern’ in buckle design,” Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education, 8/17/21.
–Justia Trademarks, “Tea Mill–trademark details,” accessed 8/1/23.
–Mantyk, E. and N. Stevanovic, “The ruyi: More than just a pattern,” Shen Yun Shop Australia, 8/15/21.