I've used my astutely keen sense of observation to make some clever ones over the years (oh, so clever). Many have been poured out into tea. What makes a good cup, and all that jazz. But lets get down to Earth.
Chalices (now known as cups) are important for a number of factors listed here:
1. The cups ability to keep heat
2. Duration that it's able to keep that heat
3. Comfort of handle (if applies)
4. The handles ability to keep fingers from contact of heat (if applies)
5. The edge of the cups contact point with mouth (comfort)
6. Fluids surface exposure / vessels walls proportions
7. How the vessel affects the taste (sometimes applies)
8. Aesthetics
Some of these points may seem unimportant, but in defence, if you want to seriously consider your life over a cup of tea, you need to make sure you're not scaring your hand with a still yet boiling cup. This can leave the rest of your thoughts a little obscured and aggravated.
Here are the top pros and cons of various vessels that I've discovered.
Glass
I still own a few glass vessels (double walled to avoid scorching heat), but 2 of them had broken due to odd circumstances. One was blown off a table, the other had suctioned itself to the bottom of a matching glass teapot set and kamikazed over a floor. These vessels are excellent and often cool at a good pace. They hold little body, so the temp of the tea tends to hold consistent for a little too long for my liking. They also need to be cleaned well, so hard to reach areas will tend to give the vessel a poor aesthetic look unless cared for well. Aesthetically, they are great guest pieces for a good loose leaf tea.
Cast Iron with Enamel Coating
Definitely one of my favourites. These have a tried and true traditional look. They hold a lot of weight, which keeps the temp high and long. They have minimal affect on the taste of the tea, and go well with traditional green, black, white and so forth. The down side is that they often do not carry a handle, which is a good thing actually. The way to handle these cups is to not fill them to the top, and just hold the cup towards to rim where the cup is still cool. Strange that it works.
Ceramic
Good. Ceramics have a wide variety, and whatever works with you works with you. Come in all shapes and sizes. Of those shapes and sizes though, consider the type of tea and how long you want the tea of steep in the cup, and at what temp. Larger the cup, the more the initial temp will dissipate through the vessel. Smaller the cup, the faster it will cool. Consider the amount of fluids exposed at the top too - this is help it cool fast, but almost too fast.
Earthenware / Clay / Pottery
I'm surprised to say it, but over the years, I've become obsessed with one cup in my possession. This is the redish one shown in the picture. It is a bit of a man mug, but it holds so much fluid that I don't need to worry about it cooling down too fast with the volume. The earthenware cools the initial temp down a bit and holds it quite well, but allows it to cool at a natural expected temp. The glaze of this cup is par none for my tastes, and masks the appearance of settling tea residue. The blue cup goes quite well with it - a matching set to me! The other neat thing which I find so versatile, is that the cup size fits every kind of steeping device out there. Often there is a case where a steeping device just doesn't fit in, or clasp on the edge right or something... but this never fails. Aesthetically, the shape is timeless and perfect. Both of these cups are hand made and carefully thought over to carry their own distinction. I like that.
I'm proud to have an Aunt who has cherished this gift she has. She owns a pottery Studio in Algoma Mills, Ontario - just off Highway 17. Her work embodies careful craftsmanship and unique glazes in combinations I can only compare to a work on canvas. My kitchen will not be complete until I have it completed with her work! You'll understand why I'm being praiseworthy.
Hope you enjoyed the extra bit of info. I bet you'll never drink from a chalice again without thinking about it twice! Maybe drinking from it twice too. :) Appreciating the qualities will only bring out the best in your next cup, which may make your next cup your best cup.
