char.

Jiàn Zhǎn (建盏) tea cups have been renowned for artisanal quality, intricate patterns, and unique glazes since the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

The tradition of crafting Jian Zhan continues today in Fujian province at the Dragon Kiln. The word 建 (Jiàn) comes from Jianyang, the region in Fujian province where these cups originated, and 盏 (Zhǎn) means "cup" or "small bowl."

char. is a family-run business and our mission is to support artists and family in Guangdong bring this artistic and cultural heritage to a wider audience.

Every single piece in the char. collection are hand-made and one-of-a-kind. From shaping the clay to the final firing, each piece takes anywhere from several weeks to months to finish. The art is a mental game too - requiring patience and precision—especially during the high-temperature firing (up to 1300-1400C), which creates the beautiful trademark crystalline patterns. Just one mistake during the process means the piece is ruined...

Please remember - these cups are not just pieces to sit atop your cabinet on display. They're to be used and cherished with your favourite brew of tea! Natural sediment ingrained within the mineralisation patterns will ensure your tea tastes richer and fuller over time.