Step 1: Choose your main brewing vessel
Start with a gaiwan or teapot. A porcelain gaiwan works with almost any tea and is easy to clean, while teapots may be better suited to specific teas. For your first Gongfu tea setup, we recommend an easy-to-use gaiwan.
Tip 1: Choose the Right Size
A 100–130 cc gaiwan is a versatile size for both solo brewing and sharing.
Tip 2: Choose the Right Material
Choose porcelain for all-purpose brewing, or glass for green and floral teas.
Gaiwans
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Step 2: Choose Your Tea Cups
Choose the number of cups based on how many people you usually serve. For solo drinking, one larger personal cup may be enough. For sharing, smaller tasting cups are usually more practical.
Tip: Choose the Right Cup Size
Personal cups are typically 50 cc or larger, while tasting cups are smaller and better suited for serving multiple people. For most setups, 1–3 tea cups is a good starting point.
Tea Cups
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Step 3: Choose a Fairness Pitcher
A fairness pitcher, or Gongdao Bei, helps distribute tea evenly between cups and is especially useful when serving two or more people.
Fairness Pitchers
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Step 4: Choose a Tea Tray or Tea Boats
A tea tray or pot tray helps catch extra water and keeps your tea space tidy.
Tip: The Difference Between a Tea Tray and a Pot Tray
A tea tray can hold several pieces of teaware, while a tea boats is designed mainly for a single gaiwan or teapot. For a first setup, a larger tea tray is usually more practical.
Tea Tray and Tea Boats
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Step 5: Add a Waste Water Bowl If Needed
A waste water bowl, traditionally called a Jian Shui, is used to collect leftover tea, rinse water, and tea leaves. It is useful if you brew frequently or want to keep your tea table tidy, but it is not essential and can always be added later.
Waste Water Bowls
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Step 6: Add Other Gonfu Tea Accessories
Once you have the essentials, you can add accessories based on your preferences, such as tea pets, lid rests, tea scoops, tea towels, and teaware storage bags.These are optional, so you can choose them based on your needs.
