Tea is more than a drink to many people around the world, who enjoy their favourite beverage regularly as part of a ceremony or ritual. The Japanese tea ceremony is probably the most famous example of a tea ritual, however, many other cultures also ritualise they way that they drink tea. Some of these cultures are based in the Middle East and North Africa, and others are based in Asia. However, even in places like Europe, North America, and Australia, it could be argued that tea is often used in a ceremonial or ritual context. One of the things that is essential to tea rituals are teas accessories, such as a tea pot and special tea cups. The overall setting of the table can also play an important role, with formal tea ceremonies taking place with specific accessories placed in a certain way.

While tea is used in a ceremonial context all over the world, the term ‘tea ceremony’ normally refers to either chayi, the Chinese tea ceremony, chado, the Japanese tea ceremony, or tarye, the Korean tea ceremony. Of these, the traditional Japanese ceremony is probably the most famous around the world. However, there has been a lot written on the tea ritual in other parts of the world, including Victorian era high tea in the United Kingdom and the ritualised drinking of tea throughout the Middle East. tea accessories play an important part in many of these rituals, and it could be argued that ritual tea drinking requires the use of certain things. Tea ceremonies are quite formal by their nature, and require the use of specialised cups, tea pots, and place settings.

Apart from formal tea ceremonies, many people also enjoy tea in a somewhat ritual setting. Whether it is simply having a cup when you wake from bed, or enjoying a tea pot with company, the nature of ritual is heavily entwined with the drinking of tea. There are a wealth of tea accessories available from home stores and specialised tea retailers, both locally and via online shops. The rise of gourmet culture around the world has made ceremonial tea drinking more popular in recent years, and there are more than a few online based businesses who sell an manner of tea related products.