This exquisite tea set is made from “Ru Yao” kiln porcelain, renowned for its delicate crackle glaze and smooth texture. The set includes a Gaiwan, Cup, Pitcher, and Strainer, each meticulously crafted to enhance your tea brewing experience. The elegant design and subtle color shifts in the porcelain are characteristic of traditional Ru Yao ware, making this set a collector’s item as well as a functional piece for tea preparation.
Tea Set Components:
• Gaiwan (120ml)
The Gaiwan, often referred to as “San Cai Wan” or “Three Talents Bowl,” is designed with three key components: a lid, body, and saucer. This versatile tool allows you to steep and serve tea with precision and elegance, particularly in the Gongfu tea style.
• Body Diameter: 9.4 cm
• Saucer Diameter: 10.6 cm
• Height: 8.2 cm
• Weight: Approximately 330 g
• Cup (100ml)
The matching cup is perfectly sized to hold 100 ml of tea, allowing you to fully appreciate the aroma, color, and flavor of each brew. Its comfortable size and weight make it easy to handle while drinking Gongfu tea.
• Diameter: 8.0 cm
• Height: 5.8 cm
• Weight: Approximately 165 g
• Pitcher (220ml)
The pitcher, also known as a “Cha Hai” or “Fairness Cup,” is used to pour the brewed tea evenly into cups, ensuring that every guest receives tea of the same strength and flavor. The Ru Yao glaze adds a touch of beauty to this essential tool.
• Diameter: 9.5 cm
• Height: 8.0 cm
• Weight: Approximately 210 g
• Strainer
The finely crafted porcelain strainer ensures that no tea leaves enter the pitcher, providing a smooth and clear tea soup. It fits perfectly over the pitcher and is designed to be both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
• Diameter: 8.3 cm
• Height: 5.8 cm
About Ru Yao Kiln Porcelain:
Ru Yao is one of the Five Famous Kilns of ancient China, celebrated for its opalescent glaze and fine crackle patterns, which symbolize natural beauty and elegance. The glaze’s changing hues over time, especially after repeated use, further enhance the aesthetic appeal of the tea set. The subtle crackles form over time, making each piece unique and more valuable as it ages.
Usage Guide for Gongfu Tea Brewing:
1. Preheat the Gaiwan and the cup by rinsing them with hot water.
2. Add 4-8 grams of tea leaves into the Gaiwan body.
3. Pour hot water (85-92°C for green or black teas, or 95-100°C for oolong or dark teas) onto the tea leaves. Avoid burning the delicate leaves by using water of the correct temperature.
4. Rinse the tea leaves by pouring out the first infusion quickly. This step “awakens” the leaves, ensuring optimal flavor extraction.
5. Steep the tea by adding water again, covering the Gaiwan with the lid. Pour the tea into the pitcher using the strainer to catch any leaves.
6. Serve the tea from the pitcher into the cups, ensuring equal strength in each cup.
7. Adjust steeping times with each subsequent infusion to achieve the desired strength and flavor profile. Each tea variety responds differently to re-steeping, and the flavor will evolve with each brew.
This “Ru Yao” Gaiwan tea set is not only a functional tool for tea preparation but also a work of art that embodies centuries of Chinese tea culture and craftsmanship. Perfect for tea enthusiasts, this set allows you to appreciate the beauty of the brewing process while enjoying your favorite teas.