Tea Equipment

Traditional cast iron Japanese Tetsubin for heating water

A gaiwan (gai wan, gaibei, lit. a covered bowl) is a small (100-200cc) bowl with a saucer and lid, designed for quickly infusing small amounts of tea. A larger than normal tea to water ratio is used along with short infusion times. Once infused, the hot gaiwan is picked up by holding onto the lid and saucer, with the lid slightly off center to allow the tea liquid to flow through while holding back the tea leaves. It can be poured off into a fairness pitcher, or drunk from directly. Reducing the infusion time helps bring out more subtle aromas, and highlights the different flavors that come through in successive infusions. In keeping with the gaiwan's strength as a tea taster, most are made of porcelain or other non-porous material to prevent the bowl from adding to the flavor of the tea, although some are made of yixing clay or exotic materials. Infusion time is increased slightly with each infusion, and continues until the tea is spent. The gaiwan is a good choice for any type of tea. It's especially good at preserving the flavors of delicate teas, but it's also interesting with puerh teas that can yield up to 20 infusions. In considering the gaiwan, keep in mind that the small quantities it yields means spending more time actively infusing and pouring tea. In return, your time will be rewarded by the flexibility and speed of the gaiwan. It's a natural fit where the act of preparing tea and the skill applied is as important as the result.



Gaiwans 101: New to high quality tea?

The traditional clay tea pot is made of yixing clay (zisha, tsu sha, purple sand) from around the town of Yixing in the eastern province of Jiangsu, China. Yixing teapots are best used with darker teas, such as black, and puerh, and possibly oolong. These darker teas seep into the porous clay, eventually coating and merging with the pot. This is said to add or return flavor to the tea. To keep the flavors similar, a yixing teapot is typically dedicated for use with one type of tea. Yixing teapots are typically small, with common sizes running from under 150cc to about 400cc. They are often used in gong fu style preparation.

• Yixing 101 or what is this 'yixing' thing
• Yixing For Oolong?
• How do you clean an yixing pot?

The samovar is designed for heating water, not for infusing tea. It has a main tank that's filled with water, and a pipe inside the main tank. This pipe is typically filled with solid fuel, which heats the water when burned. Because fire needs oxygen and produces smoke, the pipe typically has small holes near the bottom allowing the fire to be fanned, and a chimney on top to let the smoke out. The chimney is often fitted with a receptacle to hold a teapot. The teapot is sometimes filled with concentrated tea, which is heated and diluted with water from inside the samovar. The pipe is usually designed with a restricted airflow allowing the solid fuel to smolder and keep the water hot for hours. This makes for nice, long, slow sessions sitting around the samovar drinking tea.

A kyusu is a small Japanese teapot with a side handle and built-in strainer. They're typically well made with a focus on balance for easy pouring and can often stand on their side.

This one, hand crafted in Tokoname, Japan, is made with a permanent ceramic sieve. Others may have a stainless steel mesh sieve.



Further information

• What to brew my tea in???

Two tokoname (approx 0.350 liters each), a nice bowl for spent tea leaves and first infusions, two handmade chawan - one with "fish and net" pattern glaze and a raku glaze one. Courtesy of JEEP

Tea FAQ

Preparing Tea

Here's a selection of typical modern Chinese teacups. They hold 20 - 40 ml of liquid.



A tasting set consists of a matched set of two tea cups. The tea is poured into the tall cup, the wider cup is set on top, and the set inverted and served. Before drinking, the top cup is removed and held upside down to retain the tea aroma, which can then be enjoyed separately.


Further Information

• What tea cups do you drink from?

• thermometers
• scales
• spoons
• cleaning supplies
• water kettles
• trays

• Tea FAQ
• Types of Tea
• Preparing Tea