RIP my gaiwan

The short answer is no, at least for me.

You can get a fine porcelain gaiwan at The Tea Gallery, 131 Allen St., but not cheaply. There are heavy stoneware gaiwans for maybe $4 at Kam Man on Canal St. between Mulberry and Mott. There are workhorse - but not heavy - glass gaiwans at Ten Ren on Mott St. that work very well for me for $15; I use one all day long at work.

/Lew

Thanks Lew. I'll probably go with the glass, as much as I don't really care to give Ten Ren any business.

It's really a shame, because this one was free with some TGY I bought in Beijing last year, and had the wholesaler's name and address on it. I was quite attached.

Well, they didn't manufacture it, if it's any consolation. And one important note I forgot: there are 2 sizes, 4-oz and 6-oz, and the

6-oz is *much* better because its knob is solid and won't get intolerably hot.

/Lew

Lewis Perin + Alex:

If you want to support enthusiasts and don't mind going mail-order, I've bought a bunch of delicate porcelain and practical glass gaiwans from MyFineTea.com (no commercial connection except as customer etc.). Although I prefer porcelain on aesthetic principle, I have become completely habituated to glass gaiwans and use one daily.

-DM

Too bad you're not around here. I could pick you up one for like a buck that would work as well as the ones for 15 bucks.

Lewis - where did you see the 6 oz gaiwans? All I can find are the 4oz. I'm looking on-line as opposed to in person; which site has the 6oz glass?

Joshua In a previous article, Lewis Perin sent out:

Joshua C. Sasmor - Pipe-smoker, teacher and mathematician Home page:

************************************************************************* Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth but supreme beauty. - BERTRAND RUSSELL

*************************************************************************

Sorry, I don't know.

/Lew

I know, and it kills me. Every time I buy something in the US I think "this costs ten times what it does in China." Particularly tea stuff, and particularly, it seems, high-end yixing. I have to find time to make another trip.

If you find the time, contact me. I'll take you to the market and show you how the business is done. You'd be surprised.

It is said that smashing your gaiwan is good fortune, as it takes away your bad luck, so hang in there. :)

I know the pain of buying inferior goods at an inflated price compared to the Chinese market. Here in England, prices are inordinate, and not many people are into "real" Chinese teas (don't kill me, fellow English), let alone finding a good zisha hu. Our most delicious, sumptuous, lust-inducing teapot cost less in Chengdu than a bottom-of-the-range factory version here in the UK. Somebody, somewhere, is getting very, very wealthy on importing this stuff.

On replacing the gaiwan, there are a surprising number of good, simple white porcelain numbers available from online sellers. I'll try and dig up one that was recently recommended to me.

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

I did not know that - but I have had a good week, so it must be true!

I actually dug around in my belongings and found a back-up glass gaiwan of the finger-scorching variety that Lew warned against, and I'm using that now. Thanks for all the tips, and Hobbes I would still be interested to know what is available on the internet.

I'm drinking some of this long'an wood roasted oolong from Hou De out of the glass number right now. It's my first foray and very interesting.

I love Chinese superstition, it's very comforting. For example, when you smash your gaiwan. :)

Regarding Internet-purchasable porcelains, I can recommend:

The quality and price are very reasonable, and the response of the firm is good. Though they are decorative (and not too showy while they're at it), they do allow the colour of the soup to be appreciated. The gentleman that writes on the site (from Hong Kong, I believe) is also rather witty, and makes me chuckle aloud.

If you're in the UK, I can recommend:

I have some pure white gaiwan from here which are very satisfactory.

Toodlepip,

Hobbes