Hoobar Bamboo Kung Fu Tea Tray

The Hoobar tea tray works with a two-layer design. The top layer is a slatted bamboo surface where you place your teapot and cups. When you pour water over the pot or rinse cups, the excess drains through the slats into the bottom reservoir. That reservoir stores the water until you're done, then you disassemble the tray and dump it out. Reviewers say it doesn't leak when the tray is intact, which is the main thing you want from a water storage tray.

It's actually a solid entry point for someone just getting into gongfu tea. Reviewers highlight how easy it is to set up and use — there's no complicated assembly, and the compact size isn't intimidating. It's also affordable enough that you're not making a big investment while you figure out if gongfu brewing is for you. The main downside is durability — some users report issues within a few months — but as a starter tray to learn the ritual before upgrading, it does the job.

On the Hoobar tray, you'll want to keep it minimal given the compact size. The sweet spot is a small teapot (especially a clay Yixing pot) and 2-3 small cups. Some people also fit a small tea pet or a pair of tea tongs. Don't try to load it up though — reviewers note the bamboo piece is somewhat flimsy and can crack under too much weight. Stick to lightweight items and you'll be fine.

The tray is designed for small teapots — think a traditional gongfu-sized pot, typically 100-200ml. A standard Yixing clay teapot fits perfectly alongside 2-3 small cups. If you're trying to fit a larger Western-style teapot, this tray will be too small. The compact footprint is intentional for the Chinese gongfu brewing style, where everything is deliberately small.

Some reviewers do mention that the bamboo piece wobbles slightly in the tray. It's not a dealbreaker for most people — the bamboo sits on top of the reservoir and water still drains properly — but if you're particular about a rock-solid surface for your teapot, it's something to be aware of. Placing your teapot centered on the tray rather than near the edges helps minimize any movement.

Yes, its compact size actually makes it one of the more travel-friendly tea trays. Reviewers mention using it for travel or when visiting friends. It's small enough to pack in a bag alongside your teapot and cups, and the simple disassembly means you can break it down flat. Just be careful with the bamboo piece during transport since it can be somewhat fragile.

The key is drying it completely after every use. Don't leave water sitting in the reservoir overnight, and wipe down the bamboo piece — especially the underside, which is untreated and most vulnerable to mildew. Some tea enthusiasts apply a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil to untreated bamboo surfaces periodically. Store the tray disassembled in a dry, well-ventilated area rather than stacking the pieces together while damp.

A gongfu tea tray catches all the water you pour during a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. In gongfu brewing, you rinse the teapot, warm the cups, and discard the first infusion — that's a lot of water that needs somewhere to go. The tray sits underneath everything and collects it in a hidden reservoir below. The Hoobar tray is sized specifically for this kind of session: it fits a small clay teapot and 2-3 cups, which is the classic gongfu setup for personal brewing or sharing with one other person.

A tea tray keeps your tea sessions tidy. When you're brewing gongfu-style, water goes everywhere — rinsing the pot, warming cups, discarding spent tea. The tray catches all of that so your table stays dry. The Hoobar tray has a bamboo top with a water storage reservoir underneath, so spilled tea drains through and collects out of sight. Reviewers confirm it does a good job collecting spilled water during brewing, and some even use it as a drying rack for cups between sessions.

Technically yes, but it's purpose-built for tea brewing rather than general serving. The bamboo surface with drainage slats means it's not ideal for serving food or items that might fall through. Some creative reviewers have repurposed it as a drying rack for cups, which is a nice bonus use. For actual tea service, it works well for intimate sessions with one or two guests, but the quality can be inconsistent for formal entertaining.

With the Hoobar tray, place your teapot in the center and arrange 2-3 small cups around it — that's about all the space allows given its compact size. For a gongfu-style service, you'd brew tea in the pot, pour it into each cup on the tray, and hand cups to your guests. Any spills or overflow drain into the reservoir below. Keep in mind this tray is really designed for intimate personal sessions rather than formal entertaining — if you're serving a larger group, you'd want something bigger.

A traditional gongfu tea set typically includes a small teapot (often clay), several small tasting cups, a pitcher (called a fairness cup), tea tongs, and a tea tray. The Hoobar tray covers the tray portion of that setup — it's specifically sized for a clay teapot and 2-3 small Chinese-style cups. If you're building your first gongfu setup, the tray is a good starting piece since it's compact and affordable, though you'll need to purchase the teapot, cups, and other accessories separately.