How To Use A Gaiwan Without Burning Your Fingers

Gaiwan is also known as the “universal tea set” in the tea world. It allows you to brew Green Tea, Black Tea, Yellow Tea, White Tea, Pu-erh Tea, and even Scented Tea or Tisane. Many tea lovers like to use Gaiwan to brew their teas, believing that the right Gaiwan can bring out the best flavors.

However, if you’re new to gaiwan, you might feel hesitant because it may be too hot to handle if you need to control it better. In fact, there are specific skills that can be mastered. In this article, we’ll share some easy tips to help you use your gaiwan safely and enjoyably to brew your favorite tea confidently.

Advantages of Using a Gaiwan to Brew Tea

1. Most Gaiwans are crafted from porcelain, a material known for its high density that does not absorb odors or compromise the tea’s fragrance. Therefore, brewing tea with a porcelain Gaiwan allows for an authentic brewing experience, enabling you to appreciate tea’s advantages and disadvantages fully.

2. The wide mouth of the Gaiwan offers an excellent opportunity to observe the tea leaves and infusion more intuitively, enhancing your overall enjoyment.

3. While the heat retention of a Gaiwan may not be as pronounced as that of a teapot, it is particularly beneficial for preventing over-brewing delicate teas like green and black tea that do not require high temperatures.

4. The Gaiwan is quite popular due to its affordability and excellent value for money. Even if it is broken, you will not feel too distressed.

5. With its neutral characteristics, the Gaiwan does not favor any particular type of tea, making it an ideal choice for brewing a diverse range of teas.

Tips for Avoiding Burning When Using A Gaiwan

Tip 1:Pick the right Gaiwan

Choose a Gaiwan that can hold around 100-110ml and has a thin body.
Make sure the rim of the Gaiwan is slightly outward, meaning it should be slightly wider. Such Gaiwan helps in easy heat dissipation when brewing teas.

Tip 2: Do not overfill the Gaiwan

Fill the gaiwan with only 70% to 80% full water.
This way, you’ll lower the risk of burning your hands since more water means more heat.

Tip 3: Three-finger Method

Hold the bowl with your index finger, middle finger, and thumb.

If you are concerned about being unable to hold the Gaiwan steadily during this process, you can also use your other hand to hold the bottom of the bowl to avoid burns. It will help improve stability and prevent you from getting burned by the hot water.

Tip 4: Tilt and Pour

Tilt the lid slightly to allow a gap between the lid and the bowl.

The size of the gap depends on the type of tea being brewed. If the gap is too large, the water will flow too quickly when pouring the tea, leading to burns on your hands. However, if the gap is too small, the tea leaves may block the outlet, making it difficult to pour the tea.

Therefore, it’s essential to choose the correct gap size based on the type of tea and the design of the Gaiwan, as it will help ensure that the tea pours out smoothly while preventing tea fragments from getting mixed in.

If you’re a new tea lover trying to figure out how to determine the right gap size, it’s advisable to start with a smaller gap and gradually adjust it until a suitable position is found.

Tip 5: Practice, practice, and practice…

Once you’ve built more control in holding the gaiwan, you can develop your style.

In general, mastering the art of using a Gaiwan without burning your fingers is a skill that requires practice. It’s common for beginners and even experienced tea artists to burn their hands while using a Gaiwan occasionally. Many experienced tea enthusiasts even joke, “I’ve moved past the stage of burning my hands; now I’m just used to it!”