The taste of water

Preparing morning tea is an exercise in sensitivity, a moment of relative quiet and cautious concern. Not a 'ceremony' （茶道） but an 'art' （茶藝）, balancing the character and condition of the leaves, water temperature, time and the suitability of utensils.

Tea preparation is also a tradition that has been elaborated by generations of writers, painters and craftsmen. Use of antique or classical teaware provides a link to 'the ancients' - calibrating contemporary experience with theirs.

Variety in tea utensils invites individual combinations, expresses personality and reflects subtle differences from one day to the next. A literati household would have a small ensemble of teaware to re-combine.