Office Tea Gear

[Qilin]

This is subject of great frustration. In local culture, it's not ideal to have too fancy tea gear on your desk because it's viewed as too frivolous (i.e. you should be working not brewing great tea).

In my previous workplaces, my colleagues who drank loose tea either used teaballs, one of those plastic plunger contraptions(seems to be designed more for coffee) or plastic mug with plastic tea basket.

I don't like teaballs because of the expansion issue, plastic because of the heat and anything with metal mesh (hard to get the bits out).

Right now I'm leaning towards a plain porcelain gaiwan plus large porcelain teacup. I hope that's not too fancy. What do you do?

[Tead Off]

Perfect. Use a plastic tray underneath.

[IPT]

I told my boss, upon hiring me, that I would only work for him if he allowed me to have a full tea setup on my desk and he agreed. So, I have a full tea setup with a cabinet filled with tea and tea ware. I would not work in a place where I was not allowed to drink tea. You could get a small porcelain or bamboo tea tray, something simple. That should not cause too many comments.

The funny thing is that now one of my coworkers, and two of the bosses now have tea trays on their desks because of me.

[IPT]

You could use a gaiwan on a plate, or small tray too. It would be pretty unnoticeable and would work well.

[twinofmunin]

I have a small cheapie kyuusu at work, and keep it up on a shelf out of the way when not using it. I keep a small unpaper towel (paper towel sized rag) for drips and so on. I keep meaning to bring a gaiwan to work, but the one I meant to bring is rather delicate and so I'm waiting for a sturdier-looking one to catch my eye. For non-sencha teas I currently use a tea basket by "Republic of Tea" (http://www.republicoftea.com/product.aspx?p=V00978) -- it's nylon and nearly as large as the cup that I set it in, so I feel like the expansion situation is alright.

I avoid fancy teas, though, because the heated water at work is meh and I have been unable to convince myself to bring in my own water heater and water.

[michaelb3600]

I have two teaware items I use at work. Both were gifts, and I love having a little stash drawer of loose tea hidden away.

FORLIFE Tea Mug: http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Tall-15-O ... 803&sr=1-2


First, a friend bought this for me @ Wegman's. Works great. Extra large infuser basket.

Tovolo Tea Stick http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Tea-Press- ... 741&sr=8-2

We found this at Marshall's and it works so well. I just love it. I keep it in my briefcase. It looks like an epi-pen antidote from a zombie film. Keeps loose tea in inner chamber (holds about 3 servings worth), pour into metal basket, dip it in mug. Sort of like a mini coffee press.

[JRS22]

+1 on the For Life mug. The infused basket is not only huge, but it's solid stainless with very fine holes. I've never had a problem cleaning it, and it strains everything including rooibos. Adagio has something similar made from glass.

[Hot Tea]

This is my tea set up at work, surrounded by coffee-drinking people who think I'm just a little wierd.

Top left of pic is the 250ml thermos flask used to hold hot water.

[IPT]

That is a very nice setup Hottea! It is simple, yet attractive and it looks like you have an extra cup to try to turn those coffee drinkers!

[Qilin]

IPT, so is tea your full-time job? You have a very nice website, will explore more when I find time.

Thanks for the replies! Will keep your suggestions in mind.

I love hot tea's setup! The hot water in local workplaces is not good, usually just boiled tap water.

[IPT]

Hello Qilin,

Thank you for your compliment on my website. I have a couple full time jobs. I do own two teashops and have my website. I am also the marketing manager for a Chinese tourism company. I am hoping to some day be able to quit that and just concentrate on tea. Maybe in a few yeas. That is the dream, anyhow. So I work 40 hours a week in the office, 40+ hours a week on the website, and then I work weekends in my teashops. I have excellent managers who run them during the week for me. Oh, and I am a father.

[Marco]

Hello Qilin,

Thank you for your compliment on my website. I have a couple full time jobs. I do own two teashops and have my website. I am also the marketing manager for a Chinese tourism company. I am hoping to some day be able to quit that and just concentrate on tea. Maybe in a few yeas. That is the dream, anyhow. So I work 40 hours a week in the office, 40+ hours a week on the website, and then I work weekends in my teashops. I have excellent managers who run them during the week for me. Oh, and I am a father.

'Cause IPT's days have 24 hours - and there are the nights too

[IPT]

Basically. I only sleep 3 to 4 hours a night.

[karmaplace]

'Cause IPT's days have 24 hours - and there are the nights too

I can't really speak for IPT, but I have noticed that in Korea, the work days tend to be much, much longer than they are at home, and some people work very, very hard at several different jobs throughout the day. I know Japan also has some pretty long work days, so if it's true in China too, it may be an Asian thing.

I envy everyone's work setups, especially Hot Tea's. It looks wonderful.

Lately I've just been bringing in a thermos of iced tea everyday, but once it gets cool again I'll start brewing at work. I've tried a bunch of different setups; a couple of infuser mugs, a Korean travel set, and now a houhin-like gaiwan.

Luckily, there's a nice hot and cold water dispenser right on my floor, so I know the water's good. However, I only have a few five minute bursts of time throughout my work day to fetch water and brew, with students running all around me ready to knock my brewing vessel from my hands (and often trying to budge in front of me at the water tank). Most of my time is spent in 55 minute stretches where I am not supposed to leave my classroom unless it's an emergency.

We also do not possess a well-working sink...in fact, the only sinks in the building are bathroom sinks that constantly clog, and I don't like to spend a lot of time washing out my tea ware at 10 PM after a long day in a backed up bathroom sink.

I've tried the gaiwan a few times, and I like it. It brews easy and cleans easy. I had some trouble with the infuser mugs and travel set due to dripping and spilling and taking way too long to clean out.

I think really just wish I was allowed time to actually enjoy my tea while at work.

[teaisme]

I bring my electric kettle to work along with a bigger sized pot 250-300ml. A faircup, and a couple small 20ml cups. A big plate to put all this on, and an empty thermos for waste water. Brew 2-4 infusions throughout the day. It's pretty fast to boil water, then I can put the kettle away and just have a plate on my desk. Doesn't get in the way of anything.

A more simple solution may just be to get a small Zojirushi hot water dispenser and put it under your desk or to the side. Then an infuser mug like the forlife one or the korean style ones. http://www.rishi-tea.com/store/koryo-teacup-jade.html
That way the only thing on your desk when boss walks by will be the infuser cup.