 | Gaiwans |
Gaiwan literally means 'lidded bowl'. Whereas our instinct it to consider it a cup on its own, only in Sichuan would one see such a cup filled with Eight Treasure tea being used for individual drinking.
Elsewhere in China, the gaiwan is an ideal way of steeping tea in both casual and gongfu tea settings; dependent on tea's importance in each area. Using one takes a bit of practice to avoid burning one's fingers, but they are easily mastered and most importantly suitable for steeping all forms of teas. We consider them a much safer vessel for learning to appreciate tea with, since they offer great visibility and control over the tea-making process, compared with other vessels like Yixing clay pots.
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