Some Chinese tea cups, known as gaiwans, do not have handles.
This is because they are designed to be held with the palms of the hands, allowing the drinker to feel the warmth of the tea and appreciate its aroma.
Gaiwans are typically used for brewing and drinking loose leaf tea, and are an important part of traditional Chinese tea ceremonies.
While some Chinese tea cups do not have handles, others do. For example, yixing clay teapots and cups are a type of Chinese tea set that often have handles.
Yixing clay is a porous, clay-like material that is traditionally used for making tea sets in China.
These tea sets are prized for their ability to absorb the flavors and aromas of the tea, and are often used for brewing and drinking oolong, pu’er, and other types of tea.