The Great Gatsby, in the shape of tea

Could you please tell me the meaning of "in the shape of" in this excerpt from the chapter Five from The Great Gatsby? Is this a regular or normal phrase in this sense?

“Looks very good,” he remarked vaguely. “One of the papers said they thought the rain would stop about four. I think it was ‘The Journal’. Have you got everything you need in the shape of—of tea?”

Thank you;