Multiple Infusions

Before selecting a gongfu tea table I spent a long, long time agonizing over which one to get. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I looked at 95% of the tea tables on the Internet.

Several factors contributed to my indecisiveness: For one, trying to judge a table’s quality based on a forty-character description and a little picture is really hard. Then there’s the issue of shipping costs from Asia, which can make what initially seemed like a good deal no better than one you could get in the States.

And just how big is 40.5 x 28.5 x 6 cm, anyway? I have to divide by 2.54 just to begin to get a sense for what size those dimensions are. Keeping track of all my notes and bookmarks was a snore, and I found that I kept rediscovering tables I had already decided I liked.

I can’t tell you what makes a good tea table, because I don’t know. And I certainly can’t tell you what would make a good tea table for you. What I can do is point you in the direction of some of the many tables I considered.

Here, then, is a look at 32 tea tables from across the Internets. My hope is that this post will make your life a little easier when you go to buy one. Many of these vendors have a wide selection of tables; I encourage you dig around–you will probably see something you like better than the ones I’ve highlighted.

I did eventually find what might be the best value of them all, which I’ll save for last. :)

North American Sources

Comparison of 1-5

1. Enjoying Tea | Art of Tea Gongfu Tea Tray | 22 x 11 x 3 ” | $59.99

2. Golden Teahouse | Full Size Tea Board | 17 x 7 x 2.4 ” | $64.95 shipped

3. Hou De | Bamboo Tea Tray | 17.3 x 10.6 x 2.75 ” | $165

4. In Pursuit of Tea | Bamboo Tea Ocean | 14 x 9.5 x 2.6 ” | $56

5. J-Tea | Rolling Tiger Tea Tray | 12.25 x 8 x 2.25 ” | $80 shipped

Comparison of 6-10

6. Mrs. Lin’s Kitchen | Red Wooden Tea Tray | 17 x 12 x 2.5 ” | $59.95 (on sale $45.25)

7. Pure Puer Tea | Classic Bamboo Tea Tray | 15.5 x 10.5 x 2.5 ” | $125 shipped

8. Red Blossom Tea Company | Zen Half Lattice Tea Tray | 19 x 11.5 x 3.5 ” | $78

9. The Republic of Tea | Large Bamboo Tray | 16 x 11 x 0.5 ” | $26 | By all accounts this probably isn’t a good table. I’ve included it only for the sake of completeness.

10. Rishi Tea | Bamboo Tea Table | 17 x 10.5 x 2.5 ” | $75

Comparison of 11, 13, 15 and 16

11. Sensational Teas | Formal Bamboo Tea Tray | 24.75 x 14.2 x 3.5 ” | $110

12. The Tao of Tea | Da Chapan | no dimensions | $50

13. Treasure Green | Bamboo Tea Tray With Drawer | 13.50 x 9 x 2.75 ” | $53 CAD

14. Vital Tea Leaf | Black Lacquer Tea Tray | no dimensions | $78

15. The Whole Leaf | Lu Mu Tea Tray | 17.5 x 13 x ~2.75 ” | $180

16. YuzuMura | Medium Bamboo Tea Tray | 15.75 x 11 x 2 ” | $75

17. Zhong Guo Cha | Large ChaPan Inlaid With Mother of Pearl - no dimensions | $59.99 | Zhong Guo Cha has perhaps one of the worst websites ever, so I can’t link you to the table, but they do have some nice ones at decent prices if you’re willing to deal with the poor navigation and slow load times. Do note that I ordered a free sample from them over three months ago and never received it, so reliability is a question mark.

Asian Sources

Comparison of 18, 20-23

18. Fun Alliance | Bamboo Sliding Door Tea Tray | 16.75 x 8 x 2.25 ” | $72 shipped

19. Kuan Yin Tea | Bamboo Tea Tray | no dimensions | $45 (Kuan Yin Tea appears to be a bulkish supplier)

20. Tea From Taiwan | Bamboo Tea Tray | 18 x 12 x 2.5 ” | $115 shipped

21. Tea Masters | 3 in 1 Bamboo Tea Tray/Box/Basket | 12.6 x 8.7 x 9.4 ” | $199 (e-mail Stéphane for updated price list)

22. Tea Spring | Bamboo Tea Tray IV | 15.9 x 11.2 x 2.4 ” | $77.70 shipped

23. Yishan Teashop | Small Bamboo Tea Board | 13 x 6 x 2.4 ” | $57.95

eBay

(since eBay listings are prone to expiration, I’ve linked to categories within the sellers’ stores)

Comparison of 24-27

24. Chinese Teapot Gallery | Bamboo Tea Tray | 24 x 14.75 x 1.5 ” | $60 shipped

25. Dragon Tea House | The Sun Bamboo Table | 19.7 x 13 x ~3 ” | $61.99 shipped

26. Sampan Tea | Bamboo Tea Table | 11.2 x 7.3 x 3 ” | $33 CAD shipped

27. Yunnan Sourcing | Bamboo Tea Table | 16.5 x 11 x 3.1 | $45 shipped

Japanese Tea Trays

Comparison of tables 28-31

28. Holy Mountain Trading Company | Rosewood Tray With Black Lacquer | 16 x 10 x 2 ” | $78 shipped

29. Indigo Tea | Bee House Wood Tea Tray | 15 x 8 x 0.2 ” | $29.50

30. Teavana | Black Sushi Tray | 16 x 10 x 2 ” | $69.95 shipped

31. Zensuke | Black Wooden Tray | 16.5 x 11.5 x 0.2 ” | $49.95 (sale $39.95)

The Best For Last

See how this tea table compares to a double mattress.

32. Andao | Wooden Tea Tray | 15.6 x 10.2 x 2 ” | $24 (+ $3.75 to US & China and $10 international)

I can’t really say how spectacular Andao’s tea table is, since it’s my only one. I can tell you that it’s pretty, solid, and doesn’t leak. For the price, it might be very difficult to beat. Oh, sure, I would rather have the Lu Mu tray from The Whole Leaf, or perhaps The Sun table from Dragon Tea House, but for under $30 shipped, I’m pretty satisfied. I’ll follow up with some glamor shots later today.

In the meantime, if I’ve missed a vendor with a good table, do let me know.