TeaChat

I see that people are using small 40 ml teapots.

I can understand using them for rolled oolong, but are they used for other teas?

For instance, do you use them for yancha? Force feeding them and breaking all the leaves on their way inside the pot?

Actually, for greener rolled oolongs like jade TGY and gaoshan, they are a poor choice because the leaf expands so much.

Just based on size, and ignoring factors like clay and firing temp, I think very small pots are best for traditional high fired rolled oolongs, aged yancha with already broken leaves, and aged gong ting cooked puerh. But, as long as the leaf fits, no reason not to.

Personally, I use my 40ml pots for traditional Chou Zhou style preparation of high fired TGY. Since this style requires almost filling the pot to the top with dry leaf, the 40ml makes a great size for one person without breaking the financial bank for high quality tea.

I've done larger leaf teas in my tiny pots occasionally, without breaking leaves: I try to pour the first infusion/flash rinse water over the leaves as much as possible, then gently push the wetted leaves into the pot. I do this with the Dan Congs and my 50mL 'yixing' all the time.

40ml tea pot size is not for beginners. Will take some practice and understanding about Kung fu tea before taking on smaller or larger size.

debunix wrote:I've done larger leaf teas in my tiny pots occasionally, without breaking leaves: I try to pour the first infusion/flash rinse water over the leaves as much as possible, then gently push the wetted leaves into the pot. I do this with the Dan Congs and my 50mL 'yixing' all the time.

I agree that could be a good method for getting larger leaves into a smaller pot, however, if you are talking about the zen8tea 50 ml shui ping you gotta remember that that teapot's size was listed incorrectly and it is actually a little closer to 65-70 ml which in turn is easier to find a tea that will appropriately fit in it. When it comes to a "true 40 ml" pot the options become more and more miniscule. I think what Tim and TJ said are good things to keep in mind for these tiny beauties!

I don't have good luck with pots that small - even with leaves which fit, it can be tricky to keep enough heat in, and to get the ratio of leaf exactly right.

I like small pots (and own / have owned some in the 40-50 ml range), but I find that 60-70ml is the smallest I want to go most of the time.

wyardley wrote:I don't have good luck with pots that small - even with leaves which fit, it can be tricky to keep enough heat in, and to get the ratio of leaf exactly right.

I like small pots (and own / have owned some in the 40-50 ml range), but I find that 60-70ml is the smallest I want to go most of the time.

I fully agree. But, on occasion, I have a tiny kyusu that I will use for high end gyokuro.

Well, wyardley and TO, if you are looking to get rid of your 30-50ml pots you know who to shoot a PM to.

wyardley wrote:it can be tricky to keep enough heat in

IMO, the most concerning factor. Hence I seldom use a 40mL xi shi I got here.

wyardley wrote:but I find that 60-70ml is the smallest I want to go most of the time.

The sweet spot for gong fu tea, definitively; but if all else fails gaiwan does the trick.

tingjunkie wrote:Well, wyardley and TO, if you are looking to get rid of your 30-50ml pots you know who to shoot a PM to.

Mine are Japanese and super-duper rare and expensive.

Hmmm.. my first yixing was 40 ml, it definitely took a lot of practice but now I make MUCH nicer tea in it than any of my larger ones, but only because im so used to the feel and technique of the 40ml. Im a <60ml junkie ^__^

Tead Off wrote:

tingjunkie wrote:Well, wyardley and TO, if you are looking to get rid of your 30-50ml pots you know who to shoot a PM to.

Mine are Japanese and super-duper rare and expensive.

Well... nevermind.

Just got a 40ml pot about a week ago, and I'm loving it. Hardly clogs (single hole), and makes rationing out expensive aged pu'er very easy. Having great luck with it so far.

Thats a very good point on pu, I have a little 60ml pot which I haven't picked a tea for yet.. Considering aged sheng as a pairing for it even though its not optimal clay, still makes a better cup than my gaiwan!