Cha he -- when entertaining do you use one? Care to share?

[futurebird]

Once again I'm brewing tea for some people! Yay! It's so much fun to pack up my stuff and go make a mess at someone eles's house! Well, and to talk and drink tea-- even with people who aren't as much of "tea heads" as I am.

So, do you use cha he?

Here are some:



What is all this stuff? What's that bead-thing?



I don't like this one the leaves would fall off if you passed it around, but it shows that one could just use a little plate.

My friends enjoyed looking at the spent leaves last time... so, I'm toying with taking it up a notch-- but, I don't want it to be too fussy. we don't drink tea in a fussy way. It's a party.

Also, Is the cha he used in China or is it more from Taiwan?

If you have a cha he (or something that you use as one) that is really nice post a photo-- I need ideas.

[wyardley]

I like the "jockstrap" style best.

I don't always pass it around, but I do usually use one to put the leaves into before putting into a pot or gaiwan (if at work or just brewing for myself, I'll sometimes just use my hands or a piece of paper, though). For one thing, it is easier to funnel in, and for another, it avoids having your bag or tin of tea come in contact with a steamy brewing vessel.

You can also just use a small ramekin or condiment dish if you'd rather not be so fussy.

FWIW, I never put the spent leaves back in the cha he, just use it for the dry leaf.

I think it's used both in mainland China and in Taiwan.

[Evan Draper]

I just use a bamboo scoop, like this one--spurn monofunctionality, as Alton Brown says. I have a cheap mass market one, and one that was made by a friend.

[tingjunkie]

I actually use two different ceramic spoon rests. The circular groove for the handle of the spoon makes a great funnel for the tea leaves.

[futurebird]

I actually use two different ceramic spoon rests. The circular groove for the handle of the spoon makes a great funnel for the tea leaves.

Not a bad idea! I have a really nice one that's quite old from my greatgrandma...

But seriously can anyone tell me what the little bead-like object is? Also the pouch looks like the kind we use for matte de coca... it looks like it's from the Andes.

[brandon]

Practical: I often break off a few inch wide piece from a tea cake and then go about separating it into (roughly) single leaves before adding to the gaiwan. Doing this directly into the gaiwan yields a lot of dust and fannings in the brew. Doing it over a dish or piece of paper makes it pretty easy to add only the good stuff.

[debunix]

I'm looking for a cha he that I can use for photographing the tea--not too dark or too white or too shiny, just right for showing off the tea teaves--and that will be pratical for use too.

[gingkoseto]

White square 3" x 3" paper. I love it!
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70 ... t/1-17.jpg

I grabbed a pad of it from a lab (no idea what they use it for, maybe weighing paper) several years ago and wish to know where I could get more of it! It's white but not shiny or bleachy, thick enough but not clumsy or heavy, has nice cotton paper texture, great hand-feel, not slippery, won't get wrinkled easily, and the size is perfect!

[Tobias]

I'm looking for a cha he that I can use for photographing the tea--not too dark or too white or too shiny, just right for showing off the tea teaves--and that will be pratical for use too.

I've been thinking of commissioning a chá hé from one of the teaware artisans, something with a darker glaze on the outside and a white on the inside.

I think a Petr or Greenwoodstudio shino would look nice or perhaps one of Petr's or Andrzej's black glazes?

[futurebird]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/105040761/ ... with-shino

it has been done!

[yalokinh]

Never really cared to spend the $10+ for one. don't really have a use for it, but they would add a little extra something when entertaining.

[GreenwoodStudio]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/105040761/ ... with-shino

it has been done!

More on the way firing the wood kiln in 2 weeks!

[wyardley]

Yeah, bamboo scoop works well for a number of uses! I have a similar one to the one pictured above, and use it all the time.

[David R.]

Just received this one from darjeeling.cz :