Chahai

Chahai is a small vessel used in Chinese and Japanese tea ceremony, also known as ‘sea of tea’, ‘bowl of justice’, ‘gundaobei’. Used for pouring over brewed tea from a teapot or gaiwan to ensure that the strength of the beverage is even in all cups and to avoid tealeaf. A chahai, especially a glass one, allows you to admire the colour of the infusion, which is an important part of the tea ceremony. The chahai also allows the tea to cool slightly before it is poured into cups, especially if it is too hot.

How to choose a chahai

The volume of the chahai should be slightly larger than the volume of the teapot or gaiwan so that the tea doesn't overflow over the edges.

If you are just starting your tea journey, we recommend getting a chahai with a handle so that you don't burn your fingers.

The material of the chahai can be any, but in a glass one you can admire the beauty of the infusion.