Gaiwan
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Contents |
Overview
"Gaiwan" (a.k.a. "gaibei", also romanized as "guywan") roughly translates to "lidded bowl/cup." A gaiwan is a two- or three-part tea brewing vessel of Chinese origin. A three-part gaiwan (the most common) will consist of a saucer, a cup, and a lid. A two-part gaiwan will not have a saucer.
Also see Gaiwan on Wikipedia.
Materials and Construction
Gaiwans are most frequently made of porcelain, but are also commonly made from zisha clay or other clays. Gaiwans made of porous materials such as zisha clay are often glazed on their interiors, both for aesthetic reasons and to prevent absorption of tea residues into the clay.
Gaiwans generally hold 4-6oz (~125-175mL) of volume, but smaller and larger gaiwans are not rare.
Gaiwan Use and Technique
Gaiwans may be used in two ways: brewing and decanting, or brewing and drinking.
Brewing and Decanting
This method involves using the gaiwan just like a teapot. Add leaf, add water, infuse for a period of time, and decant the liquid into another container(s), such as cups or a Faircup (also known as a sharing pitcher).
A guide to this method can be found here: The Beginner's Guide to Gaiwans by Brent H.
Brewing and Drinking
This method is similar to Glass Brewing. Add leaf, add water, and sip directly from the gaiwan, using the lid to push tea leaves out of the way.
