Does anyone use a gaiwan smaller than 90ml? The Tea Gallery is selling small gaiwans of 60ml http://www.theteagallery.com/small_gaiwan_p/ta-gwns.htm which is really intriguing.
I drink a very small amount of tea at a time, but that seems VERY small. However, with really good tea you could get a vast amount of infusions.
Any thoughts?
EDIT: Also, the little gaiwan travel sets look very interesting, but I can't find anywhere to buy them.
2nd EDIT: They have them on Yunnan Sourcing and the gaiwans are the same 60 ml, so maybe I answered my own question.
Nov 13th, '08, 10:59
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Nov 13th, '08, 11:08
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Nov 13th, '08, 12:01
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They are nice to have around, particularly when, like Ed says, you have a really expensive tea, or if you have something that you really need/want to use a very low ratio of leaf to water. It can also be nice for those times when you want just a bit of tea but you know that you won't be able to make very much, like when it's late and you just want a bit before going to bed. It's also good when you just want to experiment with brewing.
I think the Tea Gallery one is a little bigger than 60 ml, though I haven't measured. Edit: I measured it, and it is indeed around 50-60 ml actual liquid volume (without any tea), measured to about where the lid would go. For me it's the perfect size for work - I had one until I broke it recently. It is the perfect size to fit two small tasting cups I use at work - one for me and one for my little water buffalo. Without any tea inside tea, in fact, it over-fills both cups.
I like the shape (wider than the other gaiwans of the same size that I have, and a pleasant shape to look at, nice flare on the lid) and the thin, decent quality porcelain, however the lid sometimes makes kind of an annoying squeaking sound when it touches the body, unlike some slightly nicer ones I have. The size is certainly big enough to accomodate most types of leaves you'd want to brew. I think it's just a touch overpriced, but it's still pretty good.
Since you're (sort of) local, just wait til the next time you visit and try brewing something with it, or at least pouring some water out from it. It's important that it feels comfortable to you.
The problem with the little travel sets (aside from the fact that so many of them have tacky decorations) is that they're generally poorly made, and also the cha hais don't pour well at all, which is a big pain when you're travelling and don't have a tea tray -- I always end up making a mess all over the place.
I like the shape (wider than the other gaiwans of the same size that I have, and a pleasant shape to look at, nice flare on the lid) and the thin, decent quality porcelain, however the lid sometimes makes kind of an annoying squeaking sound when it touches the body, unlike some slightly nicer ones I have. The size is certainly big enough to accomodate most types of leaves you'd want to brew. I think it's just a touch overpriced, but it's still pretty good.
Since you're (sort of) local, just wait til the next time you visit and try brewing something with it, or at least pouring some water out from it. It's important that it feels comfortable to you.
The problem with the little travel sets (aside from the fact that so many of them have tacky decorations) is that they're generally poorly made, and also the cha hais don't pour well at all, which is a big pain when you're travelling and don't have a tea tray -- I always end up making a mess all over the place.
Nov 13th, '08, 13:12
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Yea, we have a travel set similar at work that I've currently absconded with until I get my own mini gaiwans (my current gaiwan is a beautiful white jade, but it's at least 5 oz if not more). And you're right, the cha hai pours less than beautifully.
I'm not sure when I'll be going back to The Tea Gallery, although I do have to go to the gift show in the city in January...maybe I'll take a detour.
I'm not sure when I'll be going back to The Tea Gallery, although I do have to go to the gift show in the city in January...maybe I'll take a detour.
the little fisherman at jing tea shop is 50 ml. and it has a very cool handpainted design.
I havent tried it but I can vouch for the quality of jing's wares
http://www.jingteashop.com/pd_qing_hua_gaiwan.cfm
I havent tried it but I can vouch for the quality of jing's wares
http://www.jingteashop.com/pd_qing_hua_gaiwan.cfm
I can get you a travel set here in Taiwan and send it to you. They're only about US$15. You can see it here on my avatar photo, or there's a picture of one of my sets over on the daily poll section - I think it was on 11/12 or 11/13 that I put it up. It doesn't have the 'tacky stickers' that most of the sets have, which is nice.
The cha hai (pitchers) do take some getting used to, but as I mentioned on that post, it's just a technique to learn (you have to pour slowly, and don't have the pitcher too full when you start).
There are also some nice very small gaiwans - more like large teacups with lids - I can try to get some photos for you if you're interested. I remember they come in a variety of colors (glazed) or clay exterior, and all have white glazed interiors. They also include a saucer.
The cha hai (pitchers) do take some getting used to, but as I mentioned on that post, it's just a technique to learn (you have to pour slowly, and don't have the pitcher too full when you start).
There are also some nice very small gaiwans - more like large teacups with lids - I can try to get some photos for you if you're interested. I remember they come in a variety of colors (glazed) or clay exterior, and all have white glazed interiors. They also include a saucer.
Nov 14th, '08, 02:03
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Nov 14th, '08, 12:12
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Oh man. That's cute as a button!trallis wrote:the little fisherman at jing tea shop is 50 ml. and it has a very cool handpainted design.
I havent tried it but I can vouch for the quality of jing's wares
http://www.jingteashop.com/pd_qing_hua_gaiwan.cfm
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Nov 14th, '08, 22:52
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The tiny gaiwan suits my sneaky attic tea set up rather nicely:
I find gaiwan over 100ml a little too much unless there are more than two people drinking.
A small gaiwan also means you can rattle through 2 or 3 teas in the time usually spent on one, or just stuff it full of leaf and your sorted for quite a while.
I find gaiwan over 100ml a little too much unless there are more than two people drinking.
A small gaiwan also means you can rattle through 2 or 3 teas in the time usually spent on one, or just stuff it full of leaf and your sorted for quite a while.
I own this and I can say that it is good quality and very thin. good for delicate teas and teas that don't need high heat that lasts.trallis wrote:the little fisherman at jing tea shop is 50 ml. and it has a very cool handpainted design.
I havent tried it but I can vouch for the quality of jing's wares
http://www.jingteashop.com/pd_qing_hua_gaiwan.cfm