Tea cups for Oolong

[noname]

I have recently got in to drinking Oolongs - mostly Taiwanese greens and Wui varieties. One thing I realized is that oolong tastes significantly better from smaller cups. So I have been using a yixing cup that came with a pot. I would like to get a cup that does not absorb flavor in the way that yixing does.
What would you tea experts recommend? I don't want anything large like a bowl, but nothing too small - at least 100ml. I would also like something without any sort of toxic paint.

[nonc_ron]

I have recently got in to drinking Oolongs - mostly Taiwanese greens and Wui varieties.

Congratulations on your first post. May you write many many more.

[Poohblah]

100mL sounds like a large cup to me. I have trouble finding decent cups more than 50mL in size.

Also - forgot to add - Dragon tea house on eBay has a decent selection of cups. I too prefer porcelain.

[tingjunkie]

Nice thin porcelain will do the trick- antique if you can find it. FWIW, 100ml isn't considered very small. I usually use cups which are 20-80ml depending on how many people are drinking with me.

If you care more about taste than traditional Chinese looks, I'd recommend hitting up the nearest antique store, consignment shop, or even Goodwill. You should be able to find a nice thin antique porcelain tea cup with a handle for $10 or far less.

[britt]

I have recently got in to drinking Oolongs - mostly Taiwanese greens and Wui varieties. One thing I realized is that oolong tastes significantly better from smaller cups. So I have been using a yixing cup that came with a pot. I would like to get a cup that does not absorb flavor in the way that yixing does.
What would you tea experts recommend? I don't want anything large like a bowl, but nothing too small - at least 100ml. I would also like something without any sort of toxic paint.

If you're concerned about toxic cups I would hesitate buying antique cups unless you really know what you're buying.

100 ml is actually quite large for a Chinese or Taiwanese oolong cup, but they do exist if you're lucky enough to find them.

There are many great oolong cups from Taiwan but they're not always readily available over here. I purchased two pairs from Cloudwalker but they were the only pairs he currently had in stock. One pair was about 100ml per cup, the other pair was about 60ml per cup. One pair was porcelain and one pair was glazed clay. Mark, the owner, said he will look for more the next time he travels to Taiwan. These cups did greatly enhance the enjoyment of drinking oolong, although a good part of that may have been due to the visuals of the cups. I guess everything contributes to the overall experience.

Tea First, whom I have never made a purchase from, does have a fairly large selection of small cups, mostly from Taiwan. The average size is about two ounces per cup. If I use a 4 ounce gaiwan, I just use two cups or a fair pitcher and one cup. You may also consider using small Japanese porcelain cups, which are readily available in the 100ml size. Using Japanese cups should also insure that you're getting cups that are safe to drink from. I also trust most of what comes from Taiwan.

Clay Taiwanese Oolong Cups, 60ml:



Porcelain Taiwanese "Singing" Cups, 100ml:

[Alex]

I got a couple of these for oolong and they are perfect!

They are only 60ml though but for drinking at a tea table and getting the most out a tea they are superb size. The quality of the porcelain is also the best I've seen. They've been knocked off the table by a ball (2 year old daughter) and hit a load of mugs and didn't even chip which considering they are egg shell thin is incredible.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jin-Zhen-100-Hand ... 3f0085e023

Simple japanese cups are easy to find in 80-150ml so look in to that as well

[Victoria]

Those are nice Zensuji. I waiver back and forth from larger to smaller and from porcelain to Hagi. I like best whatever is my favorite at the time. I'm pretty fickle, so a large range suits me best.

Currently these are my faves:

http://www.everyonestea.com/product/130

[MadeForTeaVea]

Also - forgot to add - Dragon tea house on eBay has a decent selection of cups. I too prefer porcelain.

Thanks for the link. They seem like they have some pretty neat and reasonably priced tea cups. I'm def going to have to treat myself for my birthday and pick me out a couple.

[Alex]

Yeah I just ordered a 120ml Ru Kiln cup from DTH. I get loads of stuff from Gordon (AKA Luu Chen) always great customer service as well should anything not go to plan.

Victoria...those cups look awesome.

[noname]

Anything smaller than 100ml is more for tasting than actually drinking. I can see the aesthetics behind it but in my case i need to balance it with practicality. My yixing cups are just over 100ml and work well. As far as antiques.. I am not too keen on used dishes

[noname]

I like the idea of Japanese or Korean cups. Have not found anything online yet...

[britt]

Those are nice Zensuji. I waiver back and forth from larger to smaller and from porcelain to Hagi. I like best whatever is my favorite at the time. I'm pretty fickle, so a large range suits me best.

Currently these are my faves:

http://www.everyonestea.com/product/130

Everyone's Tea has a limited but very carefully chosen selection and their customer service is typically Japanese i.e. they want their customers to be satisfied. I have only purchased a few items from them but have been happy with both the product and service.

I like your "wave" cups!

[britt]

I like the idea of Japanese or Korean cups. Have not found anything online yet...

Here are a few places that stock small Japanese cups:

Hibiki-an 100ml pair:

http://www.hibiki-an.com/product_info.p ... cts_id/469

Cool Japan (volume not stated in description but physical size is):

http://cooljapannow.jp/detail.html?KEY=NEOYADR-404

Everyone's Tea 100ml:

http://www.everyonestea.com/product/120

Yuuki-cha 60ml:

http://www.yuuki-cha.com/Japanese+Teacu ... aki+Teacup

[Herb_Master]

I waiver back and forth from larger to smaller and from porcelain to Hagi. I like best whatever is my favorite at the time. I'm pretty fickle, so a large range suits me best.

+1

I would not use the words fickle, nor waiver, maybe 'choose according to mood, ambience, thirst, concentration level and whichever one calls loudest to me!'

[tingjunkie]

Anything smaller than 100ml is more for tasting than actually drinking.

Well... all semantics aside, smaller cups in the 30ml range are for gongfu tea preparation. In other words 5 - 15+ infusions of the same leaf. If you have 7 infusions at 30ml then you are looking at over 7oz of tea.