It's All About Tea — gaiwan

Ah, the vibrant world of tea, where passionate drinkers delve deep into the intricacies of their beloved brews. One could easily get lost for hours, scrolling through forum posts and group discussions, reading about the best teapots, the ideal cups, and the recommended ways to experience various teas. "You must get a silver tea set!" one person asserts, while another swears by the transformative powers of a ZiNi or ZhuNi clays. And yet another passionately vouches for the unique characteristics of DuanNi. Recommendations, as abundant as the tea leaves themselves, flow freely in the tea community. So, where does one begin? 

Our exploration will navigate through the vast landscape of tea, from the untainted flavors of loose leaf tea to the nuanced changes in taste achieved by brewing in various teaware. From porcelain's pure embrace to ZiSha's memory and the elegance of a silver tea set – there's a world waiting to be discovered (Read more)

Many Gong Fu tea brewers divide into two categories: the ones who prefer to only use gaiwan; and the ones who stick with the trusty dusty teapot. Of course, there's also a third category — those who use both. We see ourselves as the third category. 

When using the gaiwan some things which may be intimidating are the hot water temperature and the unusual way of gripping this tea vessel. Sure, using a teapot will usually ensure that your fingers don't get burned. However, if you follow the steps to properly using a gaiwan, the chances of burning yourself are just as minimal as with a teapot! (Read more)

The gaiwan has existed as part of traditional Chinese tea drinking since the 12th century, if not earlier. However, it was not always implemented in the same ways as it is in today’s gong fu ceremonies. Back in the day, people would drink tea directly from the gaiwan. (Read more)

When the weather is warm, all we want to do is go outdoors. And as much as we love enjoying tea in the comfort of a home, there is plenty of time for that during the chilly winters. Summer, on the other hand, is the perfect time to enjoy tea outdoors, with fresh greenery all around and the sounds of mountain streams...

Although packing for some quality gongfu cha time outdoors can be intimidating. What to bring? How do we make sure the teaware doesn't break? What about the water? What if the tea gets crushed? (Read more)

So we’ve already covered the importance of clay when drinking tea, and in the previous post we discussed some important points when investing in Yixing teaware. But how about all the other teaware that’s out there? Read more for tips on purchasing the right teaware for your Chinese tea ceremonies or solo drinking!