Tin, an ancient metal with a history spanning over 3,000 years from antiquity to the present, has always been a gentleman among artifacts. Silvery in luster, mirror-like in brightness, and chime-like in sound, it has long been praised among the people for "preserving tea flavor unchanged, enhancing wine aroma, prolonging flower freshness, and sweetening drinking water," once playing a prominent role in daily life.
High-purity tin boasts stable chemical properties, being non-toxic, tasteless, and anti-oxidative – making it an ideal material for tea storage. Tea leaves are highly absorbent of moisture and odors, while their aroma is prone to evaporation; improper storage easily leads to deterioration and diminished fragrance.
The remarkable preservation ability of tin caddies is best exemplified by the 1745 wreck of the Swedish East India Company's ship "Göteborg." Carrying over 2,000 tea chests, the ship sank after hitting a reef, submerging the tea underwater. Over 230 years later, when the wreck was salvaged, some tea sealed in tin caddies still retained its aroma upon brewing. Today, tin caddies remain highly favored in coastal regions for their moisture-proof, flavor-preserving, aroma-concentrating, and light-shielding properties, especially for high-end teas needing to maintain their original taste.
Today, Tongxin She Teahouse is proud to present a premium tea storage treasure: the ancient tin hexagonal tea caddy "Shuying," a perfect blend of 3,000 years of tin craftsmanship and contemporary artistry. Crafted from 99.9% pure tin, it adheres to a 300-year-old hand-forging tradition, undergoing over 50 manual processes including tin melting, shaping, carving, and antiquing. Without relying on molds, artisans use cold-coloring techniques (since tin’s low melting point prevents high-temperature oxidation), resulting in each piece being a time-consuming and rare work of art.
Featuring a hexagonal design with sleek, elegant lines, the caddy adds an antique charm to any tea table. Its body, designed by renowned Chinese arts and crafts master Lai Qingguo, is carved with refined landscapes, green bamboos, pines, and plum blossoms, accompanied by inscriptions of "Shuying (Sparse Shadows)," "Qingfeng (Fresh Breeze)," and "Anxiang (Hidden Fragrance)" – embodying profound literati elegance. Drawing inspiration from Lin Bu’s poem "Two Odes to Plums in the Mountain Garden" ("Sparse shadows slant across shallow clear water; faint fragrance drifts at dusk under the moon"), the carvings symbolize noble virtues: pines represent perseverance and integrity, bamboos stand for unwavering faith and progress, and plum blossoms embody resilience in adversity.
Compact in size (60mm in base diameter × 123mm in height, 29mm in caliber) with a 50g capacity (suitable for Tieguanyin and similar teas), the caddy fits comfortably in one hand, offering a smooth and warm touch. Its substantial weight exudes a sense of stability, while the precision-matched lid – calibrated repeatedly during production – achieves airtight sealing by expelling air when pressed gently. A single lid suffices for optimal preservation, thanks to tin’s natural tension and meticulous hand-fitting.
Master Lai Qingguo, a recipient of national and international arts honors, has had his works collected by the National Museum of China. "Shuying" is a masterpiece that merges traditional calligraphy and painting elements with tin craftsmanship. Each hammer strike bears the artisan’s dedication, and every carving records the traces of time – making it not only a practical tea storage tool but also a valuable collectible.
To share the charm of tea and craftsmanship, Tongxin She Teahouse will randomly place a can of rock tea inside each "Shuying" tin caddy as a gift. A label on the bottom of the caddy will clearly indicate the specific type of rock tea, allowing you to savor the authentic flavor of premium tea while experiencing the excellent preservation of the ancient tin caddy.
Good tea deserves good storage. Tongxin She Teahouse invites you to embrace "Shuying" – to lock in tea aroma, cherish artisanal craftsmanship, and savor the harmonious blend of 3,000 years of tin heritage and contemporary ingenuity in every cup of tea.