Since my first wooden Tea Tray has be MIA for needing a good sanding and treatment, I’ve been on the lookout for a bamboo tray instead. Bamboo Tea Trays are more popular of a find, though there are stone and metal tea trays too. To be honest, I was tempted to purchase a metal tea tray – they are really cheap on Aliexpress (~$20) and large but are more functional than attractive. I could see myself buying a metal tea tray for myself, but for blogging pictures it would look pretty cold.
Anyways, as the bargain hunter I am, I scored a pair of bamboo tea trays on Aliexpress for a great price. The conflict I have when buying tea ware online is price – I could find something dirt cheap and hope it isn’t completely garbage OR pay more for something that one would think should be good quality and hope it isn’t the same crap item that was half the price. Alas, I opted for the cheap – if the bamboo tea trays are bad, I can return or get a refund.
The next issue I had was what size of tea tray to get. I do love the big ones as I slop around a lot, but the price sky rockets with tea try size. I took a piece of paper and cut it down to the sizes of the tea trays I was looking at and placed my tea ware on it.
Bamboo Tea Tray Time!
I’ve had about a month with my bamboo trays, so you’ve probably seen these trays in use throughout the last few tea reviews here at Oolong Owl. Upon arrival, I checked my trays joins and corners to make sure they are in good working order. I also added hot water and let it sit to check for leaks. Both trays passed! Both trays are a box style without a drainage tube.
Small Bamboo Tea Tray
The first tray to arrive was a really small one with measurements of 21cm X 12 cm X 4cm (8″ x 4.75″ x 1.5″). This tea tray has a simple design. Looks big in the photo!
In reality this tea tray is tiny! In action!
A bamboo tray this small great if you got a gaiwan, small pitcher and cup OR even better, a travel gaiwan, otherwise it is pretty crammed.
I love the small bamboo tea tray for gongfu tea sessions while working on the computer and I could see it being alright for travel. I’ve had this tray next to me while eating dinner too – it is a tea tray for 1. I dub this bamboo tea tray the Forever Alone tea tray.
Medium Bamboo Tea Tray
The second tray to arrive is much bigger – it is smaller than my MIA wooden one annd measures 34cm x 22cm x 6cm (13″ x 8.5″ x 2″).
Size comparison.
The medium sized tray can easily serve for 4 with enough room for a tea pet!
I’m not 100% happy with the design of the medium tray. The top is not level with the middle and edges higher than the bamboo dowel slats so it feels smaller than it actually is as you end up cramming stuff in the side sections. The bamboo slats are round so if I have a narrow base or very small tea cup it does not sit level and is knocked over easy. If you were looking for a medium sized tea tray I’d suggest passing on this design for something more flat. Otherwise, the size is nice and very useful, even for a solo tea drinker. The Tea Owls like this tray for union meetings.
One of my trays came with a free gift – a microfiber tea cloth – which has been awesome to wiping the tray dry after use.
In the end, I paid $14 for the small and $30 for the medium bamboo tea tray, which is a good price especially for decent quality. If I had more room, I’d love to have an entire sit down table dedicated to tea with built in drainage system!
