Tea Trays, Pot Stands, Dry Brewing, and Setting a Tea Table

Watch people brew tea and you'll see two common scenes: one with a big wooden tea tray onto which water is poured freely, the other with a small cloth, a pot stand, and a waste-water bowl on a perfectly dry table. The first is traditional "wet brewing"; the second is the "dry brewing" that has become very popular in recent years.

What Is a Tea Tray For?

A tea tray holds the teaware and catches spilled tea and water. Traditional tea trays have a double layer or drain hose, so the water from warming cups and rinsing tea can be poured right onto it and flow into a reservoir or bucket below.

Common materials:

• Wood and bamboo: Warm and attractive; keep them dry to avoid mold and warping.
• Stone: Solid and durable, but very heavy.
• Bakelite and plastic: Inexpensive, durable, and easy to clean.
• Ceramic: Compact, usually in the form of pot stands or small trays.

The tea tray's advantage is convenience: you can pour water freely, which suits larger groups and occasions with frequent cup warming. The drawbacks are that it takes up space and has to be emptied and cleaned.

What Is Dry Brewing?

Dry brewing is a way of brewing without a big tea tray, keeping the table dry:

• Pot stand (huchen): A small dish under the gaiwan or teapot that catches small drips.
• Waste-water bowl (shuiyu, also called jianshui): A bowl-shaped vessel into which all rinse and cup-warming water is poured.
• Tea towel: For wiping up drips at any time.
• Cup coasters: One under each tasting cup.

Dry brewing is light and easy to tidy up, so you can brew at the dining table, a desk, or even your office desk. And because the table stays clean, it's easier to arrange a beautiful tea setting.

Can You Brew Without a Tea Tray?

Of course. A plate under the gaiwan, a bowl as a waste-water bowl, and a towel as a tea towel make the simplest dry-brewing setup. Many longtime tea drinkers brew every day with nothing more than a cloth, a gaiwan, and a fairness pitcher.

How to Use a Tea Towel

A tea towel is a small cloth kept at hand while brewing, used to dry the outside of teaware and drips on the table, not to wipe the inside of cup rims.

• Where it goes: Next to the person brewing, within easy reach.
• How to fold it: Commonly folded into a rectangle with the folded edge facing you; pick it up and press lightly to absorb water.
• What to wipe: The bottoms of the gaiwan and pot (so they don't drip), the outside of the fairness pitcher, and water marks on the table.
• Material: Cotton or linen, absorbent and lint-free.
• Cleaning: Wash and air-dry after use; left damp, it will easily mildew.

What Is a Tea Setting?

A tea setting (茶席) is the space where tea is brewed: the table, the teaware, the cloth, flowers, and objects, as well as the person brewing and the people drinking. It can be formal or casual; the point is to make brewing smooth and the people drinking comfortable.

How to Arrange a Tea Setting

1. Start with the main brewing vessel: Place the gaiwan or pot directly in front of the brewer, in the most comfortable position.
2. Water on the right: Put the kettle on the side of your dominant hand (on the right if you're right-handed) so you don't pour across other teaware.
3. Fairness pitcher close to the brewing vessel: A short path for pouring means fewer drips.
4. Tasting cups on the far side: Close to the guests, so you don't have to reach far when pouring.
5. Waste-water bowl and tea towel at hand: Ready to use anytime.
6. Tea leaves and chahe to one side: Let guests see the dry leaves before you add them.
7. Lay down a table runner: In plain colors, to frame the teaware together.

The principle: short movements, no reaching across, few items, kept tidy.

Can You Add Flowers or Incense?

• Flowers: Yes. A small sprig of seasonal flowers or foliage is lovely. Choose ones with a light scent so they don't compete with the tea's aroma, and keep the vase low so it doesn't block anyone's view.
• Incense: Use with care. The smell of incense sticks and fragrances easily overpowers tea aroma, especially when tasting young tea or comparing teas. If you really want to burn some, place it farther from the tea table in a ventilated spot, or burn it before or after drinking and put it out during the tea.
• Music and lighting: Soft lighting and quiet music both make the tea table more comfortable.

For tea etiquette, read Tea Etiquette.

Settings for One, Two, or a Group

• For one: A gaiwan, a fairness pitcher, a cup, a waste-water bowl, and a small cloth make a complete tea setting.
• For two: Sit face-to-face or side by side, one cup each, with the teaware between you, slightly toward the brewer.
• For a group: The brewer takes the head seat, with cups arranged in a row or an arc so the pitcher is easy to pass; for larger groups, you can prepare two fairness pitchers.

FAQ

What is a tea tray for? It holds teaware and catches spilled water, so the water from warming cups and rinsing tea can be poured right onto it.

What is dry brewing? A way of brewing without a big tea tray, using a pot stand, a waste-water bowl, and a tea towel to keep the table dry; light and easy to tidy.

Can I brew without a tea tray? Yes. A plate, a bowl as a waste-water bowl, and a towel as a tea towel are all you need for dry brewing.

How should I arrange a tea setting? Main brewing vessel directly in front, kettle on your dominant-hand side, pitcher close to the brewing vessel, cups on the guests' side: short movements, few items.

Can I add flowers or incense? A small sprig of lightly scented flowers is lovely; incense easily overpowers tea aroma, so place it farther away or put it out while drinking.