Knowledge
Equipment
Gaiwan vs teapot, yixing clay, fairness cup, thermometers, travel sets — what tools matter and which to skip.
Travel tea sets — what's actually useful?
The essential travel kit: a small (100–150ml) glass or porcelain gaiwan with a lid, 2 tiny cups, a small tin of leaves, and a heat-resistant water source (mo...
What's the best way to measure tea water temperature?
A variable-temp electric kettle (Brewista, Fellow Stagg, Aiden) is the highest-impact upgrade — set it to 85°C and forget it. Cheaper alternative: any kettle...
How do I season a new clay teapot?
Three steps: (1) Rinse thoroughly inside and out with hot water — no soap, ever; (2) Boil the pot fully submerged in clean water for 20 minutes to drive out ...
Do I need a fairness cup (tea pitcher)?
Functional, not decoration. The fairness cup (cha hai, 茶海) is where you pour the entire steeped batch from the gaiwan/pot before serving. Two reasons: (1) it...
What is a yixing clay teapot and do I need one?
Yixing (宜兴) is a town in Jiangsu, China, with a unique purple clay (zisha) that's porous, slightly mineral, and seasons over time. Each pot absorbs the flavo...
Should I start with a gaiwan or a teapot?
Start with a porcelain gaiwan (100–150ml). It's neutral (doesn't absorb flavor), works with every tea type, cheap (€10–25), and teaches you to control temper...