A Cha He (茶荷) is a small, shallow vessel shaped like an up-curled lotus leaf — the name pairs "cha" (tea) with "he" (荷, lotus). Before you brew, you place the dry leaves in the Cha He to look at their shape and colour and to breathe in their scent, which is a lovely part of appreciating a fine tea. Its curved lip then works as a funnel, so you can tip the leaves neatly into your gaiwan or teapot without spilling.

Each Cha He here is made from smooth De Hua white ceramic in the classic lotus-leaf form, and pairs easily with tea sets of any material. Designs range from pure white to blue-and-white ink art — lotus, pond life and landscapes — and brighter, colourful painted pieces, so you can pick one to suit your table.

What is a Cha He used for?

A Cha He is used to present and inspect dry tea leaves before brewing — checking their shape, colour and aroma — and then to funnel the leaves neatly into a gaiwan or teapot.

Do you ship across Australia?

Yes — every Cha He is dispatched from Sydney and ships across Australia. Orders over $100 ship free.