Gongfu Cha

[jaylorgator]

Hey TeaChat,

I'm just getting into gongfu cha, and I have realized that there are many different ways of setting it up with all of the different tools that you can use. I'm just curious what some of you guys use as your set up for it.

[debunix]

My simplest setup is what I have going right now, for a nice session with some Tie Guan Yin:

Electric teakettle maintaining temp of water between 200 and 212 degrees

Small bamboo tea tray

Small porcelain gaiwan

Teacup

I happened to have brought out the small digital scale because I was reviewing this tea this evening, but it only comes out for special occasions like that when I want to document more carefully how much tea I am using, or with a new tea.

I am standing at my desk, doing paperwork, and sipping infusion after infusion....

[tingjunkie]

I prefer to use a teaboat and a waste bowl myself. I found a nice Yixing teaboat which is basically a one piece covered bowl with holes on top to let the water through. After practicing gongfu tea for about two years now, I prefer keeping things nice and simple, and using tools and ceramics I feel proud of. They don't have to be expensive, but they should go together and look nice to you. A jumble of junk on the table can really detract from the experience.

[debunix]

My tea trays do hold waste water, and I prefer them to the ceramic tea boats for slightly larger size (easier to use with a variety of tea brewing utensils and cups), and lighter weight (I have to carry the tea trays at work across the hall and through some locked doors to get to a sink).

I do envy the look of some of the lovely ceramic tea trays I've seen in other TC'ers photos....