A Celebration of Hospitality

A ceramic artist is inspired to honor a food tradition outside of her own culture.

By Hannah Sy

Read some of the stories and reflections that helped inspire these cups.

As a functional ceramic artist, I create pieces to be used for eating and drinking, but this undertaking was unique in that I sought to incorporate a tradition I am not a part of. The process began with a conversation with Sherrene DeLong and Michelle Reyes. I asked questions and listened to their stories to inform my process. What memories does chai bring up? Is it typically served as a communal or individual drink? Is there anything that is eaten with chai? What is the typical portion size? 

We don’t often think about the vessels we drink out of, but they communicate worlds of information about our context, and influence interactions around the table. For example, a pink lemonade from a local Applebee’s comes in a giant sixteen-ounce glass. Its volume is copious and it serves one individual. Or consider the four-ounce tea cups that accompany dim sum. These small cups must be constantly refilled, keeping the tea hot throughout the meal. Understanding the cultural context of chai was crucial for me to create the right vessel for this specific drink. 

I learned that chai is a drink closely tied to memories of warmth, hospitality, and solace. Its deep connection to hospitality led me to create a set of four to honor the tradition of gathering around this drink. A particular type of biscuit is typically enjoyed with chai, so the diameter of the cup’s brim is wide enough to dip the biscuit. 

Sherrene chose the glaze combination, which reflects the vibrant and contrasting colors that characterize South Asian aesthetic. Most importantly, I scaled down the size of the cup--a counterpoint to the way chai has been commercialized and served in increasingly large proportions. 

Images courtesy of Hannah Sy.

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Hannah Sy was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. As a Hokkien-speaking Chinese American woman and daughter of Philippine-Chinese immigrant parents, she is continuously learning what it means to delight in the fullness of her hyphenated identity. Hannah is a recent graduate of Azusa Pacific University and is pursuing a doctorate of physical therapy. She is a small batch ceramic artist with a specific love for creating pieces that bridge function and beauty. Her work seeks to bring delight to the everyday aspects of life. For more of her work, she can be found on Instagram and Etsy.