Benefits of Using Gaiwans

If you’ve come across these little ‘tea bowls’ at the tea shop but still went on to buy a teapot anyway, you’ll reconsider after reading this. 

A Gaiwan is a traditional Chinese brewing vessel with three parts- a lid, a bowl, and a saucer. It has been used for centuries to brew different types of tea, especially green, white, oolong, and pu-erh teas. Let’s explore why you should consider ditching your teapots for this simpler and arguably more aesthetic alternative.

Why Use A Gaiwan?

Seasoned tea enthusiasts know that both have their individual benefits and it’s better to alternate them based on purpose. Still, it’s a fact that Gaiwans might be better than teapots for newer drinkers for the following reasons.

A Smoother Brew

Gaiwans are essentially small bowls with lids, what could go wrong? Unlike tea balls, Gaiwans don’t have leaves stuck in them during the brewing process. When brewing with any type of tea ball, clipping the leaves into the ball tends to break them, which can affect the flavor profile of the tea.

The leaves also tend to get stuck in the ball, costing you a little time trying to get them out during brewing or cleaning. 

Easier to Clean

Tea pots, depending on their designs have hard-to-reach corners that make cleaning a hassle. Gaiwans on the other hand are literally an open book. You can see every part by simply opening it so they're the easiest to clean of the bunch. 

A Consistent Brew

The standardized design of Gaiwans ensures that even if you switch Gaiwans, your tea remains just how you like it unless you change your brewing process. 

Teapots on the other hand can have a slightly more varied flavor profile based on shape and the design of the spout. 

Better Flavor Extraction

Using a Gaiwan gives you more control over the steeping process, which affects the quality of your tea. The wide, shallow bowl promotes better contact between the tea leaves and water, leading to more effective flavor extraction.

For the Aesthetic

Why do people use anything? Moving past the functional uses of the Gaiwan, using this artifact shows that you appreciate the tea brewing culture. The simple and elegant design adds to the simplicity and zen of brewing tea. 

Once you’ve perfected the art of brewing and pouring tea from a Gaiwan, your tea time becomes a more mindful and enjoyable experience. 

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The Art of Gaiwan Brewing

Now that you know why exactly you should ditch your teapot, here’s how to use a Gaiwan tea set. All Gaiwans are mostly the same so this guide will work for all. 

• Pour some hot water into your Gaiwan teapot to preheat it when pour it out. It’s not a compulsory step but it’ll help the leaves open up.
• Add your tea leaves depending on the size of the Gaiwan. As you brew more tea, you’ll get used to the optimum quantity. 
• If your leaves are fresh then you can skip this process, but if not, then rinse the leaves with a quick steep (a few seconds) to wake them up. 
• Pour your boiling water into the Gaiwan. Pour the hot water in a circular motion for an even distribution of heat. 
• Be careful not to overfill the Gaiwan. Pour just enough water to the point where the Gaiwan starts to flare out. This gives the tea room to dissipate heat. 
• As a general rule of thumb, Steep green teas for 2-3 minutes, uncovered. Put the lid on the oolong and black teas, and steep for 3-5 minutes. And you have your Gaiwan tea. 

How to Pour Gaiwan Tea

After a successful Gaiwan brew, the last step is pouring it into your cup. As simple as this sounds, so many things could go wrong. Straining a Gaiwan tea set is akin to straining rice or any other vegetable after washing.

You might end up spilling the tea on yourself if you’re not careful. You can use a filter to ensure a smoother brew. 

Here are 3 common ways to pour your Gaiwan tea:

The two-handed method: This is probably the easiest way to pour your brewed tea out of your Gaiwan. It involves holding your Gaiwan in one hand with your thumb and middle finger while you create a small opening by adjusting the lid with your other hand. 

It’s safer and lets you fully control the tea entering your sieve/cup.

The three-finger technique: This method is a more advanced version of the two-handed method. Instead of holding the lid with your other hand, hold it with the index finger of the same hand you’re using to pour the Gaiwan. It has more finesse and with practice, you’d be able to do it like a pro.

The thumb method: This involves holding the Gaiwan lid with your thumb to control the flow of the tea into your cup while you support your thumb with two or three fingers underneath the bowl. This is a more advanced technique so you’ll need to be more careful.

What Can You Brew In A Gaiwan?

Green Tea: Green tea is a very fine tea and needs to be brewed properly so that it does not turn bitter. The Gaiwan’s wide, shallow bowl helps to dissipate heat quickly, preventing the tea from oversteeping. This is important because green tea is prone to developing a bitter taste if brewed at high temperatures or for long periods.

White Tea: White tea is usually mild with a complex taste. The lid of the Gaiwan is very useful in this process because it prevents the aromas from evading. This assists in preserving the flavor profile associated with white teas.

Oolong Tea: Oolong tea is best brewed in Gaiwan because it frequently improves with multiple short steps. Due to the Gaiwan’s design, you can easily pour out and re-brew the tea quickly. Use this ideally for oolong teas that can show different flavor profiles with multiple steeps or infusions.

Pu-erh Tea: Pu-erh tea, particularly when stored in compressed forms like a cake or a brick, needs a preparation style to accommodate its strong flavor and multiple steps. The Gaiwan stands out in this case because it enables many successive steps that reveal the various notes in pu-erh tea. This way, you can fully examine this change in the taste of the tea.

Scented Teas: Other teas, such as jasmine, are all about preserving the delicate fragrance. The design of the Gaiwan helps it preserve the complexities of these scents. So the gaiwan is especially useful when it comes to those types of teas where the aroma is crucial. 

Does Gaiwan Material Matter?

When it’s time for you to buy a Gaiwan tea set, you might be conflicted on which to choose as there are a variety of options. Here’s a quick guide. 

Porcelain: this is the most common Gaiwan material. This is because it is lightweight, easy to clean, and doesn’t affect the flavor of your tea. If you’re a beginner tea drinker, this is perfectly fine. 

Ceramic: ceramics provide more heat retention than porcelain so if you’re going to be making teas that require a lot of heat, then this is the way to go. They are also more durable than porcelain types. Although, if unglazed, they’ll be slightly porous and can affect the flavor of your tea. 

Related read: Porcelain Vs ceramic mugs

Glass: They serve a more aesthetic purpose. They let you see the tea leaves unfurl and the changing color of the tea. They offer a neutral taste but can be less effective at heat retention and can break easily. 

Clay: these are for more seasoned tea drinkers because they’re known to enhance the flavor of your tea over time. How this works is the clay absorbs and retains flavors, which can deepen the tea’s profile. 

They require special care and they’re most effective when you consistently make one type of tea to prevent cross-flavoring. 

Where To Buy A Gaiwan Tea Set

If you’re on the hunt for a Gaiwan tea set, there are plenty of great options. Start by checking out specialty tea shops, both online and in person. online shopping, websites like Amazon and Etsy offer a wide selection, including handcrafted options from artisans. 

For a more authentic touch, try Asian markets or shops specializing in Chinese or Japanese tea culture. Check out some of our offerings if you want handcrafted Gaiwans with a rich history and culture. Ranging from plain to patterned and transparent Gaiwans, we’ve got cool designs to choose from.