" This elegant tea tray is made of bamboo, one of the most esteemed plants in Chinese culture. This ancient material is not only beautiful, but durable and ecologically-friendly. Bamboo is a grass and not a product derived from forestry. It has a short growth cycle (approx 5 years). As a result, bamboo is considered a highly renewable and sustainable product that saves our over-abused hardwood forests. Bamboo can be harvested and replenished with virtually no impact. Bamboo's long life makes it a Chinese symbol of long life. "