A gaiwan is a type of traditional Chinese bowl or cup that is used to steep and serve tea. It consists of a bowl, lid, and saucer. Gaiwans are particularly useful for brewing tea with whole leaves, as they allow the leaves to fully expand and release their flavor. They also make it easy to strain the leaves from the tea.
To use a gaiwan, follow these steps:
- Fill a kettle or pot with water and bring it to the appropriate temperature for the type of tea you are brewing (consult a tea brewing guide for specific temperature recommendations).
- Place the desired amount of loose leaf tea in the gaiwan (consult a tea brewing guide for specific measurements).
- Pour hot water over the tea leaves, filling the gaiwan about three-quarters full.
- Place the lid on the gaiwan.
- Allow the tea to steep for the recommended amount of time (consult a tea brewing guide for specific steeping times).
- Hold the lid onto the gaiwan and pour the tea into a cup, using the lid to strain the tea leaves from the tea.