Many tea lovers say that they haven’t fully understood tea yet, but they keep buying tea utensils one after another. Some even don’t know which teas can be brewed with them! Most of the time, it’s just a momentary impulse driven by love.
For novice tea lovers who often drink tea alone, how to choose a set of tea sets that are practical, durable and will be used frequently?
1. One Gaiwan to Rule Them All
In his article “Drinking Tea”, Lu Xun wrote: “To drink good tea, one should use a gaiwan…Sure enough, the tea has a clear color, a sweet taste, a delicate fragrance and a slight bitterness. It’s really good tea.” There are numerous tea brewing utensils. For the first tea utensil that a novice buys, Lao Zheng highly recommends the most basic and practical one: the gaiwan.A gaiwan is a tea set consisting of a lid, a bowl and a saucer. Its smooth and tight glaze layer doesn’t absorb any tea fragrance and has strong applicability.
For Fuding white tea, whether it’s Baihao Yinzhen, Bai Mudan, Shoumei, new tea or old tea, loose tea or tea cakes, it’s all suitable. For other tea categories such as green tea, black tea, yancha, Pu’er tea, Dancong tea, Tieguanyin, etc., it can handle them all.
Some small suggestions for choosing a gaiwan:
– Novices should try to choose a white porcelain gaiwan. The price is affordable, and you can find a good one within 100 yuan.– Try to choose a gaiwan with a wide bowl rim. It’s not easy to get your hands burned and has strong compatibility.
– Choose a gaiwan with a capacity of 100 – 150 ml. According to the brewing ratio of white tea of 1:30, the amount of tea for one person’s drink won’t be wasted. With the same can of tea, you can get a higher cost performance!
2. The Essential Gongdao Cup
“Is it necessary to use a gongdao cup when drinking tea alone?” For Lao Zheng, it’s very necessary.
Drinking tea is an aesthetic of life. When the tea soup is placed in it, whether it’s strong or light, it’s crystal clear. Watching the white hairs dancing in the tea soup is like little elves, which is also a visual enjoyment and can bring a sense of pleasure.
A transparent gongdao cup can not only be used to observe the tea soup and its color, but also has an advantage: the tea can be poured out concentrated without overflowing, and the pouring process is clean and neat. The beauty lies in the details, which can make drinking tea more ritualistic.
3. One Bowl, One Cup for One Person’s Tea
The new model of a small gaiwan (small pot) + a large teacup, without the need for additional tea sharing, just drink as much as you brew. This simple and convenient way is more popular among young people who pursue speed in the fast-paced life.
Choose a wide-mouthed and large-capacity master cup, and match it with a gaiwan or teapot with an appropriate capacity. Even without a gongdao cup, you can pour the whole tea into the teacup and drink it directly. Simple love lasts longer.
4. Minimalist Style: Glass Cup, Floating Cup
It’s very friendly for drinking tea in the office or simply making tea at home. There’s no need to buy too many things. As long as you have a cup + hot water, you can drink tea.
Put dry tea in a clean glass cup, pour in hot water, and wait for a few minutes to drink. Refilling is also simple. Leave one-fifth of the “mother soup” and pour in an appropriate amount of hot water, then you can continue to enjoy the sweet and refreshing tea, feeling refreshed.
Adding a touch of ceremony to your tea experience can be as simple as incorporating a tea tray. A small tea tray can maintain the cleanliness and order of your tea setting. Place a lidded bowl, a fair cup, and tea cups on it – simple, yet elegant within reach. There is a wide variety of simple tea trays available, including those made of solid wood, bamboo, ceramic, and rattan. You can choose one that matches your tea table. With a tea tray as the finishing touch, the entire surface becomes more visually pleasing.
