Wednesday TeaDay 2/16/11 Teaware details.

[Chip]

Welcome TeaFriends, old and new, to another TeaDay. Please stop in and share what is in your cup with us throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed whether or not we would spend $5 for a pot of tea in a TeaRoom. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. I have not asked this for some time, what is your fave teaware, country, region, style. For the poll, just the country of origin! Please share.

We are all looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[auhckw]

Yixing rules

[sebpassion]

i'm addicted to tokoname ware

[IPT]

Although I have been focusing on Japanese tea ware lately, my first love is Chinese tea ware. There is just so much out there and the styles and varieties are endless.

[Trey Winston]

I'm a sucker for most things Japanese, and teaware is no exception.

Having some sencha in honor of today's poll.

[tropicanahana]

My favorite is chinese. I only brew this way for my finest teas otherwise I use the trusty american kettle or coffee pot (for brewing cheap teas in massive amounts! I got this idea from my boyfriend's family who are iranian and they always have bergamot tea in their 24 cup coffee maker lol)

Today I have been drinking boenjenmi white and herbs tea (boenjenmi means slim + beautiful! This I want to be - put it in my coffee maker so I'm on cup 6 haha) and one cup of anji green tea.

[Chimpie]

Chinese for me, have been there a few times and I love everthing chinese, and could die happy in a Tea House!!!

[IPT]

could die happy in a Tea House!!!

I have every intention of doing just that.

[Chimpie]

could die happy in a Tea House!!!

I have every intention of doing just that.

Not for a long time though please!!!

[Nenugal]

I love both Japanese & Chinese teaware and it is difficult to choose a favourite, but lately I have particularly admired and enjoyed Hagiyaki cups and chawans ...

Today's morning tea: kabusecha, in a hagi cup, brewed in a banko kyusu.

[tortoise]

I drink Japanese tea most often and love Japanese teaware/tea culture. My favorite brewing style, however is an extremely wet, hybrid version that involves pouring water and tea rinses over the pot, but also employs the use of aroma cups. I tend to do this with Taiwan Oolongs, Anxi, and Wuyi. Basically, the more hand action involved in brewing, the better. It calms me down.

It seems like in Taiwan, they don't pour water over the teapot, but do use aroma cups. Is that right? Also, in China, they don't really use aroma cups, but may heat the pot by pouring water over it. Am I correct about this?

[brad4419]

Chinese for the yixing and small gong fu cups. Although I do like my gaiwans too.

[entropyembrace]

Japanese....Tokoname Kyusu specifically....even the inexpensive ones have wonderful balance, great pour and that side handle is really comfortable to hold....much nicer than using a back handle.

[debunix]

This is a very tricky question, because I love different pieces of teaware for different reasons. I clicked Japanese on the poll because my favorite tea cups seem at least Japanese-inspired: relatively subtle rhythms in glaze and form make that make the pieces interesting, 'natural' features reminding me of rocks, trees, water, reflected and leaf-filtered light. And some of my favorite pieces are in a japanese-inspired style but by American or European potters.

But my most-used brewing vessels are my simple chinese porcelain gaiwans, although I find my small glass chinese teapot and my tokoname kyusus to be more attractive overall, and handier for certain teas.

And though for practical purposes I make large quantities of tea in a plastic Kamjove kungfu art cup, and drink it from my thermos cup, these are matters of convenience and not preference [written while drinking some Haiwan Purple Bud sheng puerh from Norbu, brewed in a Kamjove, carried in my thermos to a meeting, and drunk from the thermos cap].

[Chip]

Clearly Japanese is a personal fave and always as been ... number one. Beyind this it can get a bit fuzzy. Love kyusu-s, love Hagi, love Bizen, etc. Ohhhh, I guess I will say Hagi.

I also like the Japanese influenced works of Western artisans, including our TeawareArtisans right here on TC.

I also love Chinese teawares, but it is not quite at a fever pitch.