Which Tea Table should I Order?

[Geospearit]

Hi Teaheads! So, I'm trying to figure out which tea table I want to order. I'd like to have something simple, but efficient and long-lasting. After hours of research I have come down to 3 different tables. Much thanks to Another Tea Blog for sharing your experiences w/ cheap tea tables, thus preventing me from being disappointed.

Anyone chime in and let me know your opinion of the following:

1. Solid wood tea table from nadacha (UK)
£90.00, 127 us$ w/shipping






2. Bamboo tray from treasuregreen (Canada)
78 us$ w/shipping




3. Rosewood tea tray from funalliance (Hong Kong)
76 us$ w/shipping

[Victoria]

Ohhh not sure I could over look the swastika-like design on the 3rd one, so that would be out. Between the other two, both are nice! It would depend on if you want a drain or can deal with a pan. Drains are nice if you have a discreet way to conceal the tubing. A difficult choice, but I'd make it based on the drainage and what would work best in your situation.

Nice choices!

[Oni]

That sign in the middle of the teatable from funalliance, resembles a forbidden sign here in europe, looks nasty.

[Geospearit]

Ohhh not sure I could over look the swastika-like design on the 3rd one, so that would be out. Between the other two, both are nice! It would depend on if you want a drain or can deal with a pan. Drains are nice if you have a discreet way to conceal the tubing. A difficult choice, but I'd make it based on the drainage and what would work best in your situation.

Nice choices!

You know that "swastika" is a buddhist symbol... they are all over temples in the East. The characters mean "fortuitous."

edit: "The characters in the middle of the tray is not modern Chinese but Kam can tell it says "10,000 Longevity"."

Also, check out the wiki on "swastika", it's pretty interesting. The symbol goes MUCH further back than when it was employed by the nazis.

[Geospearit]

Righto VIctoria, drainage (and leakage) is a prime consideration. I'm just wondering how to work with the tubing and how easy to clean inside it would be. Can't I keep it plugged until after the session, and then attach the tube and drain?

[ABx]

The swastika was used in Chinese culture for a long time before the nazis came around, and they still do. That tray looks a bit cheap, though.

I'd probably go with the second because it's going to keep water off of your teaware the best and without being overly bulky.

I bought my tray locally and I would have a hard time buying one online without getting an opinion from someone that's at least seen it. That second one looks like it could be a bit cheap, but it's hard to tell.

One I bought online and really like is from Sensational Teas. It's solid bamboo and very well made - it's been sitting under my Zoji for a year and a half, which means that it's been wet for most of that time, and it's still in great condition other than some wear on the grill part from constant use (it gets used pretty much all day every day). The only down side to it is that it's somewhat small, however they do have a full size one that's the same style as the second one, here: http://www.sensationalteas.com/teatrays.html

[Geospearit]

THanks ABX. I did check out that site but am wary of bamboo trays without the plastic drawer after reading the comments on this blog: http://anotherteablog.blogspot.com/2008 ... pdate.html
But it seems like you are having no problems after a year and a half, so that's encouraging.

[Oni]

Probably some jewish friends would not know the origin of the sign, nor have studied eastern buddhist culture, so they would take it very offensive.

[Victoria]

You know that "swastika" is a buddhist symbol... they are all over temples in the East. The characters mean "fortuitous."

edit: "The characters in the middle of the tray is not modern Chinese but Kam can tell it says "10,000 Longevity"."

Also, check out the wiki on "swastika", it's pretty interesting. The symbol goes MUCH further back than when it was employed by the nazis.

Yes, I understand that - but unfortunately I would have trouble viewing it any other way. All I was saying is for myself, I would have trouble overlooking it. If you like it, that's cool.

I think the convenience of a pan does beat out the standard box type.

[odarwin]

id go with the first one...
only con to that is leaves on the table, but its ok...

the other 2 i wouldnt even dare to take a look at... plastic tray on the bottom, no no no. no hose line to drain the water is a big no no. i do have a similar tray like the second one, difference is mine is solid bamboo also, and has a direct hose to drain, but sometimes, if you dont clean it that often, you'll be surprised by overflowing water with leaves stuck in the drain opening.

i would actually like to buy a solid wood table just like the first one, i think it will last the longest, but i would like to know more about the finish or the varnish they used and how boiling water will affect it.

darwin

[zencha]

Review of 32 Tea Tables:
http://multipleinfusions.com/2008/07/32-tea-tables/

[ABx]

THanks ABX. I did check out that site but am wary of bamboo trays without the plastic drawer after reading...

Actually the big one on Sensational Teas does have a plastic drawer. Click on the pic to see enlarged pics.

I would just be wary of the cheap ones in general if you plan on using it frequently. I had gotten a $30 tray of good size a while back and the inside of the cutouts for the grill were unvarnished, and I'm sure that would absorb water/tea and warp. I never actually used it because I got my big "black" one shortly afterwards that I like a lot better (the big size is very nice).

The one I have is different, though. because it's all solid and very smooth. The truth is that I'm not very good about emptying and cleaning mine out, so I really mean it when I say that it's wet most of the time. The fact is that it almost always has some standing water in it, and it hasn't shown any signs of being affected in any way other than some crap building up in the corners where it can't easily be cleaned. The tray is definitely well made, and made to be used frequently; I don't hesitate for a second to recommend these trays. I can't guarantee that the big one is the same as mine (mine is no longer offered), but it looks to be the same material and finish and they both have the logo embedded in the upper left-hand corner.

You asked about plugging the drain on the first one - it doesn't have a grill, so if you did that then everything would sit in a pool of water, which defeats the purpose of having a tray. It's not really my style anyway but to me the first one just looks impractical - it looks like something that you would want a dedicated table for, and probably for frequent visitors. In other words it looks like it's more for show. Besides the aesthetics, I wouldn't want something that doesn't have some sort of grill to drain away water from underneath the teaware.

plastic tray on the bottom, no no no. no hose line to drain the water is a big no no.

Care to elaborate, please? It sounds like you know something I don't (and haven't experienced) because I don't think it's really anything more than personal preference.

I prefer a hose as well, but having a plastic tray really isn't that big of a deal. If you're doing a long session then it will fill up and you'll have to empty it out, but other than the minor inconvenience I don't see anything wrong with that. Mine has a plastic tray with a drain tube, but it also has a solid plug to cover the drain nozzle if you prefer. Either way you do need to keep an eye to make sure that it doesn't get too full. Luckily mine has a bulb in the drain tube to force out any stuck leaves.

I suppose buying a full table would be nice, but I think most of us have to settle for a tray. Maybe some day I will have the resources to have my own dedicated tea nook. I do think, however, that my preference would still be to mount a nice tray into a coffee table or something.

[ABx]

Ohhh not sure I could over look the swastika-like design on the 3rd one, so that would be out. Between the other two, both are nice! It would depend on if you want a drain or can deal with a pan. Drains are nice if you have a discreet way to conceal the tubing. A difficult choice, but I'd make it based on the drainage and what would work best in your situation.

Nice choices!

You know that "swastika" is a buddhist symbol... they are all over temples in the East. The characters mean "fortuitous."

I want to tread lightly here because I don't want to step on any toes or set off any flames, but I am glad to see someone else that recognizes this Not to trivialize what happened under the flag with that symbol, but I just don't think that one awful group should erase thousands of years of positive history. Even Americans actually used the symbol as a good luck sign way back when.

[odarwin]

Abx,

yes, my comment is a personal preference...
i have experienced it once when i was brewing tea in another place with a plastic tray that doesnt have a hose attached to it... and before i knew it, the table was filled with overflowing water that came out of the plastic tray... i prefer a tea table made of solid wood that would drain everything out to a container, plastic to me ruins the authenticity of the experience... plus it smells bad (at least in my experience) if it has contact with boiling water.

if i had to choose between the 3, its the first one hands down, and if i was to modify it to be the perfect tray, id put a big hole on the drain instead of the small ones so that tea leaves can flow through it and on to the hose... of course the bigger leaves wont be able to fit so its again mess on the table, but it can be easily removed by hand or something else like a tong or something

-darwin

[xuancheng]

Ohhh not sure I could over look the swastika-like design on the 3rd one, so that would be out. Between the other two, both are nice! It would depend on if you want a drain or can deal with a pan. Drains are nice if you have a discreet way to conceal the tubing. A difficult choice, but I'd make it based on the drainage and what would work best in your situation.

Nice choices!

You know that "swastika" is a buddhist symbol... they are all over temples in the East. The characters mean "fortuitous."

I want to tread lightly here because I don't want to step on any toes or set off any flames, but I am glad to see someone else that recognizes this Not to trivialize what happened under the flag with that symbol, but I just don't think that one awful group should erase thousands of years of positive history. Even Americans actually used the symbol as a good luck sign way back when.

The "swastika" is even a Chinese graph (or 'character') it is pronounced wan3. I agree that I wouldn't buy things with swastikas on them to display in my own home despite my familiarity with the significance of the symbol in other cultures different from my own. It would be much like displaying my middle finger to Americans and then trying to tell them it was a traditional form of greeting where I grew up.