Wandering through the streets of Chengdu, you'll find a teahouse every few steps. People gather to leisurely drink Tea from gaiwans, enjoy local snacks, and listen to Sichuan opera – it's a comfortable life…
Tracing the Origin of the Gaiwan
Sichuanese not only love drinking tea but also invented the convenient gaiwan. Since the Ming dynasty, gaiwans have been in use for hundreds of years. Even today, whether it's beginners learning about tea or experienced tea enthusiasts brewing tea, gaiwans are commonly seen.
Gaiwans are made of stable materials that do not easily absorb flavors. They are easy to use and suitable for brewing all types of tea while allowing the tea leaves to exhibit their original flavors. They are considered the fairest and most impartial tea brewing tools.
Therefore, seasoned tea drinkers and enthusiasts often choose gaiwans when trying out teas. In their hands, gaiwans are used with ease. Even when the Water temperature is high, they remain calm and composed, appearing graceful and smooth to outsiders.
However, when one attempts to brew tea themselves, they realize that using a gaiwan can be quite hot on the hands. When the hand shakes severely, one might think: “This isn't elegant at all.” Sometimes, due to improper handling, fingers can get burned, or even worse, the gaiwan can break.
For Beginners Learning to Brew Tea with a Gaiwan
What was originally intended as an appreciation of the smooth and beautiful movements of tea enthusiasts and the delicious taste of the tea, the small gaiwan has instead become a constraint. Why don't experienced tea drinkers burn their hands when brewing, yet newbies end up burning their hands and shaking? What are the secrets to using a gaiwan?
So, for new tea enthusiasts looking to learn how to use a gaiwan for brewing tea, we've compiled the following points for your reference:
1. Choose a Suitable Gaiwan
To prevent burns when brewing tea with a gaiwan, start by choosing a good and suitable gaiwan.
01. Select a Gaiwan of Appropriate Size: The size of the gaiwan should match the size of the user's hand. It's mainly determined by how comfortable it feels when the palm is opened and holds the gaiwan. Whether the wrist and finger strength can hold the gaiwan determines if it's suitable.
02. Beginners Generally Opt for Thinner Porcelain Gaiwans: Because thinner porcelain gaiwans dissipate heat quickly and conduct heat slowly, they won't accumulate heat that can quickly burn the fingers. Moreover, thinner gaiwans are easier to handle.
Thinner porcelain gaiwans are suitable for brewing all types of tea, making them easy for new enthusiasts to use. However, for tea enthusiasts with discerning palates, besides using a teapot, they can also use a Ruyao gaiwan for brewing aged sheng pu'er. Ruyao gaiwans have thick walls that dissipate heat slowly, retain heat well, and can bring out the rich flavors of aged sheng pu'er like a purple clay teapot.
03. The Cover Button Should Have a Moderate Concavity and the Bowl Rim Should Have a Moderately Flared Edge: This not only facilitates gripping but also conducts heat more slowly, ensuring quick pouring. For example, the 175 ml white porcelain gaiwan customized by Nanming Jia Ren features a reasonable design for the cover and rim, which has proven popular among tea enthusiasts after long-term testing.
2. Master the Techniques for Holding and Brewing with a Gaiwan
Firstly, hold the gaiwan using the thumb, index, and middle fingers. That is, use the thumb and middle finger to grip the edge of the bowl, being careful not to grip the body of the bowl, as this can cause burns. The index finger should hold the cover button.
Secondly, the arm position and posture only serve as auxiliary roles, with the main force coming from the wrist. Therefore, using wrist strength to grip the gaiwan is very important, and tea enthusiasts need to practice frequently to fully master it.
In addition, leave a gap before pouring, and tilt towards the nine o'clock direction when pouring, which aids in quick pouring. When brewing, avoid filling the vessel too full; it's recommended to fill it seven-eighths or eight-tenths full.
In summary: To use a gaiwan for tea brewing without burning your hands or shaking, you need to choose a suitable gaiwan and master the techniques for using it. Practice repeatedly to make your wrist more flexible. With more tea brewing experience, you will become more skilled.
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