Teacup and dish depicting flowers, rock, and animals

Tea Making, 1300–present

To infuse drinkers with vitality, varieties of tea were made according to season and weather conditions. Tea became a part of the aesthetics of the imperial family and educated elite who sought ideal preparation requiring quality mountain spring water, high-quality tea from renowned tea plantations, and the perfect tea ware. Tea making involved pouring boiling water over tea leaves in specially designed pots, from which tea was poured into small cups for individual drinking.