Toronto Chinatown Finds - For the Budget Tea Connaiseur

[tieguanyinfan]

We've all seen the threads and questions pertaining to finding gongfu teaware, trays, tea cakes...etc. without breaking the bank. If you're on a budget or just beginning the journey in tea it's actually quite possible to find some great stuff. Without a doubt things might not be super perfect but that's okay. It's all about the adventure and the fun of a scavenger hunt. So here are my finds on a rainy balmy Thursday evening, majority are from Chinatown "dollar" stores.

Store No. 1

Literally hundreds of cups!!


Typical Yixing cups


What's this? A Longquan celadon cup and with non-cracked glazing only for $3?!


Jingdezhen porcelain with rice pattern


A different Longquan celadon cup design, was very tempted to buy a few of these

[tieguanyinfan]

Store No. 2 - What will we find here?


I spy with my little eye...some pu erh/bo lay cakes


Estimate: 25-30 cakes




Oh and some Dancong


Half price for the cakes


Yixing cups with thicker sides.


Hmm perhaps I should get these instead of the Longquan cups. I'm sure Chairman Mao would agree, after all this is a post about the tea proletariat...umm budget tea connoiseur

[tieguanyinfan]

Store No. 3 - Supermarket
So to confirm, yes one can buy Pu erh/Bo lay cakes in downtown Toronto (Chinatown)


Store No. 4 - Another "Dollar Store"

After going through all the cookware I found the teaware. Some very affordable tea sets going for $40 CAD


Now this is an intriguing item. It's a Jingdezhen porcelain puerh/bo lay storage container. $60


Tea trays

[cookingwithtea]

I need a tea tray, please tell us the locations odf the stores.

Store No. 3 - Supermarket
So to confirm, yes one can buy Pu erh/Bo lay cakes in downtown Toronto (Chinatown)


Store No. 4 - Another "Dollar Store"

After going through all the cookware I found the teaware. Some very affordable tea sets going for $40 CAD


Now this is an intriguing item. It's a Jingdezhen porcelain puerh/bo lay storage container. $60


Tea trays

[yboc]

Thanks for posting this!

I'd also greatly appreciate if you could provide us with the exact locations of these or other stores.