Gaiwans

A gaiwan is an essential vessel for brewing Gongfu tea. Gaiwan, meaning “lidded bowl”, consists of a lid, a cup, and a saucer. Each of the individual components has a unique function. In Chinese tea culture, the lid is a metaphor for Heaven, the cup represents a person, and the saucer is the Earth, all existing as one in perfect harmony. The gaiwan was invented during the Ming Dynasty and became popular during the Qing Dynasty.

A Gaiwan can be used either as a teapot to brew tea, or as a personal tea drinking vessel. The saucer serves as a base of the vessel, and also enables you to hold a cup of hot tea. The cup is for brewing and can also be used as a tea cup. The lid serves as a cover when brewing the tea, and can also be used to move the tea leaves around inside the cup to release more flavor and to strain the leaves while drinking.  

Our exclusive selection of gaiwans are uniquely curated to make your gongu tea experience authentic and enjoyable. Collections include high quality porcelain gaiwans from Jingdezhen, artisanal, classic or modern, all easy and comfortable to handle.