Best style Cup for Oolong

[Ursinos]

Not sure if this should be here, or in the Oolong section.

I'm on a real oolong kick lately. Been loving the smooth, floral flavor of them. My eyes have also been opened recently that some teas work best (or are traditionally served) in different style cups.

My question is, is there a particular style cup that oolongs go best in (or are traditionally served in)? I've been looking around and having found any real information. I'm thinking about expanding my teaware a bit to have a nice cup just for my oolongs.

[bagua7]

I use something similar to this but thinner and a bit taller, and also for raw puerh.

And this other style works like a charm as well but I use it for Chinese greens.

IMO, the thinner the better.

[chrl42]

there is popular style for Oolong - Gongfu teacup is.

small and thin...half the size of Ping-Pong balls,

the term 'gongfu' was actually invented to brew Oolong, let's not forget

[Ursinos]

there is popular style for Oolong - Gongfu teacup is.

small and thin...half the size of Ping-Pong balls,

the term 'gongfu' was actually invented to brew Oolong, let's not forget

really? those tiny little cups? hmmmm

[chrl42]

there is popular style for Oolong - Gongfu teacup is.

small and thin...half the size of Ping-Pong balls,

the term 'gongfu' was actually invented to brew Oolong, let's not forget

really? those tiny little cups? hmmmm

No, there's no rule.

If you like it in a relatively larger coffee mug, that's a best cup

[Ursinos]

there is popular style for Oolong - Gongfu teacup is.

small and thin...half the size of Ping-Pong balls,

the term 'gongfu' was actually invented to brew Oolong, let's not forget

really? those tiny little cups? hmmmm

No, there's no rule.

If you like it in a relatively larger coffee mug, that's a best cup

lol, I'm not the kind of person who HAS to have my tea in a particular type of cup because someone says so. I've been enjoying my teas in english style cup and saucer set

I was mostly wondering if there was a type that is traditional, and if there is something it adds to the experience.

[debunix]

For Dan Cong and greener oolong especially, I do not like to crowd the tea in the cup, to permit accumulation of the pleasant scents--so whether the cup is taller or wider, I don't want to fill it to the brim.

[kyarazen]

lol, I'm not the kind of person who HAS to have my tea in a particular type of cup because someone says so. I've been enjoying my teas in english style cup and saucer set

I was mostly wondering if there was a type that is traditional, and if there is something it adds to the experience.

i've been enjoying tea using beakers for many years..

[Noonie]

I would start by examining what brewing device you want for oolong, or different types of oolong...what size is it? Are you using lots of leaf to water ratio and short infusions as in gongfu style (yixing or gaiwan), or a larger pot and longer infusions. Then match the cup to the style, and lots of good recommendations above on cup specifics. Check yunnan sourcing or dragon tea house brewing devices and cups for ideas.

[wyardley]

I really do prefer small cups (whether shorter and wider or taller and narrower) for tasting oolong, though I do use bigger cups for casual drinking sometimes. I think drinking the cup in 3 sips makes for more focused tasting, the tea doesn't get cold, and the aroma in the empty cup is concentrated better.

Try for yourself and see what you prefer.

[Ursinos]

I would start by examining what brewing device you want for oolong, or different types of oolong...what size is it? Are you using lots of leaf to water ratio and short infusions as in gongfu style (yixing or gaiwan), or a larger pot and longer infusions. Then match the cup to the style, and lots of good recommendations above on cup specifics. Check yunnan sourcing or dragon tea house brewing devices and cups for ideas.

right now my brewing vessel of choice is a little glass gongfu pot I got from DavidsTea (198mL). I have to admit that a brewing in that pot is enjoyed all as a single cup for me though (mainly cause my wife is not the tea drinker I am). And I do love the results of the tea as brewed gongfu style, especially the oolongs

[steanze]

198ml seems a little bit huge for gongfu for 1 person... usually people use pots/gaiwans in the 60ml-100ml range, because gongfu requires a very high leaf to water ratio. With a 198ml pot you might end up using around 15 grams of tea (expensive!) and given the multiple infusions you'll make A LOT of tea every day

[Noonie]

198ml seems a little bit huge for gongfu for 1 person... usually people use pots/gaiwans in the 60ml-100ml range, because gongfu requires a very high leaf to water ratio. With a 198ml pot you might end up using around 15 grams of tea (expensive!) and given the multiple infusions you'll make A LOT of tea every day

Any thoughts on matching say an 80ml pot to a similar sized cup...vs using a much smaller cup and a cha hai? Is there an advantage to the cha hai with pouring the brewed tea into the smaller cup 2-3 times? I wouldn't think so, but as usual I'm learning.

[Ursinos]

198ml seems a little bit huge for gongfu for 1 person... usually people use pots/gaiwans in the 60ml-100ml range, because gongfu requires a very high leaf to water ratio. With a 198ml pot you might end up using around 15 grams of tea (expensive!) and given the multiple infusions you'll make A LOT of tea every day

well, the website SAID it was 198ml, but I imagine that's full to the brim, and I never fill it right to the brim (it leaks during the pour if I fill it more than say, 2/3rds full). I think maybe I should measure it to see how much water will actually go in it to the level I usually fill. (probably a good idea for accuracy in the amount of tea I use too huh?)

I HAVE been using 5grams of tea in the pot and getting a really good brew, and by the time I'm done, the pot is FULL of leaf, so I'm not sure if that says anything.

[miig]

198ml seems a little bit huge for gongfu for 1 person... usually people use pots/gaiwans in the 60ml-100ml range, because gongfu requires a very high leaf to water ratio. [...]

Hi, greetings from another Oolong lover. I assume you're brewing rolled Oolongs like Tie Guan Yin? For those, I think you might be able to use a pot about 150ml without it being to big, because these teas really expand a lot.

My preferred teas now are "strip style" Oolongs, mostly Dan Congs and to a lesser degree Yancha like Da Hong Pao (other names are Wuyi Tea, Rock Tea and so forth...). These give a stronger cup and expand less, you might want a small pot for them indeed.

But as it has been sad before, these are just trends! There's no right and wrong, every brewing style has its merits, and sometimes I just brew a spoonful of TGY in a 250ml glass pot. So its nice to look what others are doing and to get inspiration, but maybe you don't want to stick to it too tightly, because what you like best indeed is best.

Still: Once you got time, you really should try a good Dan Cong *g*

Greetings