Japanese Tea Sets

When a culture takes the time to formalize a daily event into a ritual, they must have implements for it. The Japanese culture has ritualized the event of taking tea together. In order to satisfy this ritual, formal tea sets are a necessity. Many families have more than one set. Each one is cherished, sometimes for generations. Because sharing tea is a ritual, many people purchase tea sets that are more works of art than just a way to make a beverage. The cups and pot must match and are often decorated simply. Ceramic and porcelain are the most common material for these sets.