The cups are not that interchangeable. The materials they are made from have a surprising impact on the flavor of the tea, especially for an aromatic tea whose flavor offers a certain complexity, so it pays to be more selective. The same applies to pots, teapots, and infusers, but in general tea enthusiasts pay close attention to the ones they use regularly, while they may go through a dozen different cups and bowls in a week or so casually and even automatically. The choice of a flower pot is much more thoughtful: cost, design, ergonomics, size, etc.

The cup can affect any of them, often muffling what should be part of the overall pleasure. Everyday cases are the porous clay in a standard coffee cup that traps some of the initial aroma boost, the tea cools too quickly and loses flavor, or a touch of plastic flavor in the fresh brew. Less frequent or even imperceptible impacts are leaching of lead and cadmium from the hard enamel that is added to the inside surface of the mug to make it less porous, and stored water droplets that inflate the mug in the microwave. (If it happens).