Big gaiwan

[kasey]

Duh. Here's a stupid post. I've been using a gaiwan for a few years since getting into tea. Has anyone here realized that those Chinatown infusion cups with their clunky big hole infusers do the same thing? If you can find one with a flared mouth then you have a big gaiwan, cheap!

[Acaelus]

I don't mean to make fun of you, but literally any cup could be turned into a gaiwan by that definition.

[kasey]

My point is that teapots don't do the job as well as simple covered cups.

[Chip]

My point is that teapots don't do the job as well as simple covered cups.

Not sure we could discern that from your previous post.

Regardless, that is a pretty broad stroke, donCha think? If this was the case, we could all save a lot of money, and just buy gaiwans. That would leave a lot more money for tea upgrades. Or we would just reach for our gaiwans all the time instead of our teapots.

But ... brew how you like, like how you brew.

[sherubtse]

But ... brew how you like, like how you brew.

Truer words were never spoken!

(Unless they were "Brew what you like, and like what you brew!")

Best wishes,
sheubtse

[kasey]

My point was that a covered cup is the optimal vessel for brewing tea. That's why the guiwan is the industry standard for tea tastings. Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean it shouldn't work as well. Use your imagination and make a bigger one! Don't be so stuck on tradition. Sheesh...

[Chip]

Not sure what you are upset about. A forum is going to present differing points of view. That is what a forum is pretty much all about.

If you get upset each time someone does not agree with you, you are going to be upset a lot.

You stated that a gaiwan was "optimal" for brewing which is simply a very debatable and very broad stroke (you make no mention of what tea it is optimal for, so a reader has to assume you mean for all teas). You also state this as fact.

I would disagree pretty much with this. And if you are saying I am so stuck on tradition, I will disagree with that also.

[Chip]

And how big a gaiwan shall we go with? Shall we just keep making them bigger and bigger?

[Acaelus]

And how big a gaiwan shall we go with? Shall we just keep making them bigger and bigger?

Make them as big as a factory vat. Since we want to break from tradition, y'know.

[tingjunkie]

My point was that a covered cup is the optimal vessel for brewing tea.

...and this is the optimal tea pet to put on your table.

[Amaikokonut]

Now that's breaking from tradition!

[kasey]

(Sigh...) Okay, I may be a newbie to tea but the last two responses were really inappropriate, especially the one with the stupid doll. Chip, I meant no offense if any was taken, and I certainly didn't mean to come on as the word of God. I just get "gung-ho" on new discoveries... But doesn't it make sense that a spoutless cup is the ideal vessel for brewing tea and that this is why tea dealers throughout China use gaiwans in tastings?

[iannon]

(Sigh...) Okay, I may be a newbie to tea but the last two responses were really inappropriate, especially the one with the stupid doll. Chip, I meant no offense if any was taken, and I certainly didn't mean to come on as the word of God. I just get "gung-ho" on new discoveries... But doesn't it make sense that a spoutless cup is the ideal vessel for brewing tea and that this is why tea dealers throughout China use gaiwans in tastings?

i would say in some cases , sure it makes sense, in other perhaps not. smaller gaiwans are not hard to use..you fill/half fill/whatever with leaf and go. its easy to handle overall and good for small steeps. a really big gaiwan, i think, i would have a much harder time handling in the same way. On the other side some people also just like the way that their pots clay effects the tea...or just plain like to use them for ease or aesthetics or whatever reason. A glazed pot would be the same as a large gaiwan in effect on how it steeps tea really. its just a diferent form factor so to speak. just my two cents

[teaisme]

yeah I could see a lot of people having issues with gaiwans once they reach past 250ish ml. It becomes unwieldy and feels awkward when holding. Not nearly so comfortable that you forget you are even holding it and it becoming part of you.

Heat retention also becomes an issue the larger the gaiwan gets. Some people use gaiwans in particular because they want a vessel with high heat and low maintenance. Once it gets too big keeping it hot enough for later longer infusions (and times in between all infusions) can be more difficult and require more diligence.

Not all porcelain is the same. Quality will vary, and its effect on tea will also vary. This is hard to believe until you try for yourself. Point is those chinese infuser cups are often not on par with a handmade gaiwan with the appropriate thought out glaze. Glaze aside, also consider the shape. It can have profound effects on your tea. Both in drinking cups and brewing vessels.

But doesn't it make sense that a spoutless cup is the ideal vessel for brewing tea

Huh how so? Personally I would much rather have a yixing. There are thought out reasons why clay teapots are so much more expensive in general and held in such high regard. There are many intricacies to teaware. It takes time to develop and understand these. Hojo's website will give you a good general intro into how clay can play with your tea.
It's not all just because of 'tradition'. Otherwise we would all be grinding teapowder and boiling it for a long time

that this is why tea dealers throughout China use gaiwans in tastings

I think they use them one because its cheaper, two because you can use it for a variety of teas without worrying about seasoning your clay pot wrong/mixing tastes, 3 because customers want an idea of the neutral taste of the tea. A tea addict will likely have a gaiwan at home for this very reason. To get an idea of how the tea tastes before clay comes into play. So when they go to the teashop they know what to look for if it is brewed in more neutral gaiwan then brewed in pot that could be seasoned/selected well to help mask some flaws.

Hope this helps clear some stuff up

[entropyembrace]

Why would you want a bigger gaiwan? I always want a smaller gaiwan