For those who love to drink tea, it's natural to explore various tea wares. Tea enthusiasts who own both purple clay Teapots and gaiwans may notice differences when using them to steep the same tea – in terms of aroma, color of the tea liquor, and taste.
To understand why there are differences in taste, we need to look at the characteristics of purple clay teapots and gaiwans.
[Gaiwan]
A gaiwan is a traditional Chinese Tea ware consisting of a lid, a base, and a bowl. It is also known as the “Three-Talent Bowl” or “Three-Talent Cup,” symbolizing heaven with the lid, earth with the base, and humanity with the bowl, embodying the concept of harmony between heaven, earth, and man. The most common type of gaiwan is made of white porcelain, which has a dense body and thick glaze.
Feature 1: White Porcelain Does Not Retain Flavors
Due to its unique material, white porcelain preserves the purest flavor of the tea but also retains any impurities in the leaves.
Feature 2: Easy to Maintain
Since white porcelain does not retain flavors, it is easy to clean and can be used for various types of tea without worrying about flavor mixing.
Feature 3: Poor Insulation
The wide opening means poor insulation, making it difficult to maintain water temperature. This makes it less suitable for fully opening up the tea, especially for older teas.
Feature 4: Can Be Hot to Hold
Unlike teapots, which have handles, gaiwans can be hot to hold if not handled properly.
[Purple Clay Teapot]
Purple clay is a special type of clay that has sandy properties and a double-pore structure. After firing, the resulting teapot is permeable and therefore referred to as a purple clay teapot.
Feature 1: Clay Absorbs Flavors
The double-pore structure of the purple clay absorbs impurities from the tea, which means that while the tea may not taste exactly as it would in its original form, the aroma becomes stronger and the body more robust.
Feature 2: Requires Careful Maintenance
Purple clay teapots should be dedicated to one type of tea due to their ability to absorb flavors. Therefore, each pot is typically used only for a specific type of tea to avoid flavor mixing.
Feature 3: Good Insulation
Compared to gaiwans, purple clay teapots have better seals, making them ideal for brewing aged teas and enhancing their aroma.
Here are some reasons why tea steeped in a purple clay teapot tends to taste richer compared to tea steeped in a gaiwan:
1. Under similar conditions, a purple clay teapot can better bring out the character of the tea, enhancing its flavor. This is related to the teapot's strong heat retention and slow heat dissipation, which helps the tea release more soluble compounds. In contrast, a gaiwan dissipates heat quickly, reducing the release of solubles and leading to a less robust flavor compared to a purple clay teapot.
2. A gaiwan allows some of the steam to escape, whereas a purple clay teapot absorbs part of the tea's aroma. As a result, the gaiwan's aroma is more pronounced.
3. Due to differences in heat retention, the water temperature inside a purple clay teapot is generally higher than in a gaiwan. This means that the tea flavor will be richer in a purple clay teapot, thanks to its excellent insulation.
In summary, for example, lightly roasted teas are best steeped in a gaiwan, where the aroma is high and the taste is clear and refreshing. Heavily roasted teas can be steeped in a purple clay teapot, which enhances their richness. Generally speaking, use a gaiwan for teas that require precision in brewing, such as those with a high degree of tenderness, and use a purple clay teapot for aged teas to achieve a fuller flavor.
Source: Purple Clay Teapot Encyclopedia, information shared here is meant for educational purposes. If there are any copyright issues, please contact us to remove.