Hi!
I'm very new in the world of tea and therefore interested in bying a gaiwan. However, I've heard that some gaiwans can contain lead due to paintings etc on the teaware. I would really appreciate some advice in this matter.
Regards, Jesper
Re: Lead in porcelain gaiwan?
Since lead is a very heavy metal, it tends to sink down and collect at the bottom of the gaiwan. One way to avoid contamination of your tea is to only fill the top two thirds of the gaiwan when brewing and leave the bottom third empty. Of course, in order to do this, the gaiwan must be turned upside down, which makes pouring the water very difficult, and completely defeats the purpose of using a container in the first place.
But seriously... I'm no expert, but I would only worry about lead with older vintage porcelain, or very cheap modern porcelain. As long as you get the gaiwan from a reliable vendor, I'm sure it will be ok and lead-free. I have also heard that lead is more common in painted gaiwan, so if you are still worried about it, then just get a plain one... or even glass.
Welcome to the forum Jesper!
But seriously... I'm no expert, but I would only worry about lead with older vintage porcelain, or very cheap modern porcelain. As long as you get the gaiwan from a reliable vendor, I'm sure it will be ok and lead-free. I have also heard that lead is more common in painted gaiwan, so if you are still worried about it, then just get a plain one... or even glass.Welcome to the forum Jesper!
Re: Lead in porcelain gaiwan?
You can buy lead test swabs that show the presence of lead by color change at most larger hardware stores, Ace for example.
Re: Lead in porcelain gaiwan?
If you are still really paranoid about lead poisoning and don't want to shell out the money for a good test kit (yes the good ones ARE expensive, the cheap ones that many ppl use can't detect smaller amounts) there are a couple measures you can take.
1. Don't buy wares with bright painting or colors esp on inside of cup. Pure white porcelain rarely contains lead.
2. Don't use the questionable wares if they chip or the glaze gets scratched off somehow. A lot of times the lead is in the glaze.
3. Don't drink out of really old antique tea ware
4. dusty or chalky gray residue on the glaze after washing is good indication of lead
5. Decorations on top of glaze instead of beneath it.
6. Homemade wares (unless maker says its ok)
This really just applies for some really really REALLY cheap tea ware from china. ( I assume you are not drinking your tea out of old South American Terra cotta).
1. Don't buy wares with bright painting or colors esp on inside of cup. Pure white porcelain rarely contains lead.
2. Don't use the questionable wares if they chip or the glaze gets scratched off somehow. A lot of times the lead is in the glaze.
3. Don't drink out of really old antique tea ware
4. dusty or chalky gray residue on the glaze after washing is good indication of lead
5. Decorations on top of glaze instead of beneath it.
6. Homemade wares (unless maker says its ok)
This really just applies for some really really REALLY cheap tea ware from china. ( I assume you are not drinking your tea out of old South American Terra cotta).
Re: Lead in porcelain gaiwan?
What he said. You can use quality antique (>50 yr old) or vintage (< 50 yo) china/porcelain teaware, as long as it's not 'crazed' (doesn't have a lattice of hair-like cracks in the glaze = damaged finished).
Underscore the parting comment above about 'really cheap' teaware. To put risk in perspective, you're could be exposed to substantially higher levels of lead contaminants from piping in older public supply wells and in older buildings and from flaking old paint than you are from tainted teaware.
Underscore the parting comment above about 'really cheap' teaware. To put risk in perspective, you're could be exposed to substantially higher levels of lead contaminants from piping in older public supply wells and in older buildings and from flaking old paint than you are from tainted teaware.
Re: Lead in porcelain gaiwan?
Another solution is not to drink tea, maybe the tea we drink was polluted by lead particles in the air.soljesp wrote:Hi!
I'm very new in the world of tea and therefore interested in bying a gaiwan. However, I've heard that some gaiwans can contain lead due to paintings etc on the teaware. I would really appreciate some advice in this matter.
Regards, Jesper