Getting Geeky with Teaware

The more that you fall in love with tea the more intricate your requirements for teaware. In this video we geek out and explain some of the thinking behind our Mei Leaf Gaiwan, tulip cups and Gong Dao Bei design.
Buy our Porcelain Teaware: meileaf.com/teawares/porcelain/
Videos:
Finding Mei Leaf Porcelain: • Finding Mei Leaf Porce...
Why I Love Gaiwans: • Why I Love Gaiwans
How to Brew with a Gaiwan: • How to Brew with a Gaiwan
All of this teaware is made in DeHua which is one of the capitals of fine porcelain production in China. While Jingdezhen (another area specialising in porcelain) is famous for its painted porcelain, DeHua is renowned for producing the highest quality light and white porcelain in China.
This teaware collection has been designed to our specifications and features a 150ml Gaiwan which is the perfect size for every tea lover's home, allowing both solo and social brewing.
The Gong Dao Bei has a tall and sleek outline with a short spout with excellent pouring.
The tulip shapes cups are excellent tasting cups which are intentionally oversized to allow for simple solo drinking or focused tastings.
The tall profile and shape allow the aromas to be captured in the cup to enhance the tasting experience whilst the tulip outline makes them easy drinking cups.
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Shop online: meileaf.com/
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[@FrenchGuyCooking]

Very geekly enjoyable

[@cato3277]

Alex!!

[@BolFelix]

*sniffs* I wont talk about this tea *Sniffs again* I wont talk too much about it *sniffs yet again* ...lots of floral notes, very balanced, etc. LOL Oh Don!

[@0730bcorm]

Félix 😂😂😂😂😂

[@yannstewart1355]

can't help

[@bassfayce7740]

😂❤

[@lightningslim]

Very disappointed that you didn't provide comparative diagrams with precise angles of mandibular elevation and esophageal extension! 😋

[@MeiLeaf]

+Mike Nightingale sorry, we will get some 3d renders made for you.

[@Mindful_TEA_Break]

This half hour of video went in a blink of an eye! I am also very geeky and picky if it comes to my teaware. Size, shape, color, thickness, material type - it all matters, especially if you use your teaware a lot. It's almost the end of the year so this reminds me - bloopers video?! I loved the last year one so much. Hope there is another one coming 🤓

[@MarinaC2112]

yes!!!! a blooper video will be great

[@mario7027]

The spiderman grip, awesome! I've got to practice doing that so I can show it off at any tea brewing occasion! :D My favourite gaiwan grip is actually the one that Don doesn't like at 23:20 - holding everything including the saucer - I just find it comfortable, and I had no more finger burning with that, which was then happening sometimes when I was using the classic pouring earlier.

[@ongoingmartin]

Thanks for your take on the teaware, Don! I was chuffed to bits at winning this set at your last live session and have just started using it. Top stuff. The size of the gaiwan is just right and there's a great pour on the sharing cup too. Here's to many sessions of the good stuff! My son said he wants to shine a torch on the cups like you did in the video. I'll let him do that. He also wants to try the advanced gaiwan pouring technique. Maybe one day... 😉

[@jangtsedude]

Hm I have to say that I like my glass chahai/fairness cup (or whatever you may call it) for a couple of reasons: It's very elegant, the pour is very smooth, you can have a look at the colour of the liquor and, interestingly, I like it when the tea cools down a bit before drinking. I like the geeky video because it makes you think about reasons why you might choose one cup/pot/gaiwan over another, but the value you ascribe to the reasons themselves still depends on you. There is no universally best answer. :)

[@boucaa]

For me, the problem with glass gaiwans has always been that they don't hold heat very well, which is pretty important to me as a frequent pu er drinker, but I have to admit they look pretty cool.

[@femkelodewijk9086]

Oh man, I l♡ve it when you go all geeky and stuff. I am definitely going to try that spiderman-grip myself. Looks fancy 😊 Nice video, but then again... they all are!

[@celticlass8573]

This is helping me a lot, thank you! I'm starting my adventure today, and will be picking up a small pot and a couple of cups, so I now know what to look for, for the cups. :) Thank you so much for producing such enjoyable and informative content.

[@ncizzyk3795]

1. Love that you're as into the teaware as the tea. 3. I *knew* I placed my first Mei Leaf order too soon. (Gonna have to place another now)

[@wit_tea_taster4036]

I loved the geekiness of this video!

[@chickenlil007]

Love this! Love it when you geek out over tea and teaware. Great points on the different cups out there.

[@alchemichael]

Love it! Are you going to do an ep. on gaiwan/teapot shape and its effect on brewing? Keep 'em coming, so informative and entertaining.

[@MeiLeaf]

Yes we will do a video about shapes of teaware.

[@stellajohannes8489]

I'm especially excited for this Gong Dao Bei :D

[@suzisaintjames]

Great attention to details. I love that you don't have to put the lid down on the tray anymore. Putting it on the saucer feels more hygienic. Well done. xoxo from Arizona

[@gordie997]

Very thoughtful attention to detail. Just have a preference for the glass fairness cup for the true colour of the tea. ★★★★☆

[@dongordon9900]

Love love Love 🤍 truly geeky beautifully authentic and SO educational

[@aidanm.5461]

Love it! Beautiful color.

[@jscottp77]

Whenever I use my saucer it's always outside of the tray. If I sit my gaiwan directly on tea tray it needs no saucer. The saucer is more useful to me apart from tray or boat as a place I can sit my gaiwan on that catches drips and frees up space on my tray or boat. Can't do that with a holey saucer! Still though I love that your THAT geeky in your design! It's a beautiful set and a nice teaching video!

[@someonerandom256]

Some day I will be able to go nuts over teaware and buy some pieces that I truly love. For now, I am satisfied with my one tiny, inexpensive gaiwan set. I love these videos though, and I'm storing the knowledge for the future.

[@fluffygirl1356]

Nice! You put a lot of thought into your products, I like that.

[@justchillin131]

I thourouly loved this lesson Don 😁

[@theteasessions]

Loved the geekery of this video so much! Teaware geeks unite!

[@desertfox432]

It's pretty thoughtful content to have considered making this a video. Thanks! Will try a few of those methods of pouring. I developed my own after a few burns. Very much like their tea, it's interesting how the Chinese and Japanese differ in approaches.

[@amartyasharan07]

Picked the same tea, same gaiwan today - before I started watching! :)

[@matthewwoo6684]

Great to hear what you appreciate in teaware to know what to look out for when I eventually get my own ^_^

[@AmazinFireMan]

In regards to tea, geeky is good! 👍

[@ArtiomGaluza]

You are unique human being!! :)) keep being you yourself, because that’s awesome

[@stefaniacob2391]

I'd love to hear your take on other beverages, such as coffee, wine and beer, and maybe how the tasting compares to tea tasting.

[@suzisaintjames]

Thank you for the cup demonstration. I always wondered why I never finished my tea in one cup over another. Now I know. xoxo from Arizona.

[@matdube3577]

You’re so funny Don! I love learning with your vids 😂 spider man style

[@DijaVlogsGames]

I personally don't really care about the brewing vessle too much, as long as it's nicely balanced and doesn't rattle around too much and has the correct size for the occasion. But the cups...man, I think I'm addicted to tea cups. It's all about how they feel in the hand for me.

[@amartyasharan07]

I must suggest that you allow the community to rate the teaware on the site.

[@MeiLeaf]

Yes the rating system has been programmed in detail for tea but we can add a simplified one for teaware.

[@hippie_4762]

One thing I very much enjoy about these wine/whiskey glasses for tea/espresso, is that yes. You do have to tilt them, you do have to strain the neck. But not only does the aroma contain better, while you're nosing. These smells also naturally funnel into your nose, because that's the only way for them to escape.

[@lemmontree1]

Love the set, but why does the fairness-cup not have a brown edge.. :(

[@sarahthomas4222]

A great demonstration of your teaware and I look forward to the future teaware you mention at the end of your video. That said, it looks like the tea cup is slightly more white than the Gaiwan and the Gong Dao Bei. Is this correct or just a video error? Perhaps they are made from different porcelain? Also, is your tea pet an elephant?! It is so cute! Do you sell this tea pet?

[@MeiLeaf]

+Sarah Thomas they are pretty much the same colour. No we don't sell the teapet which we picked up IN Thailand.

[@Pylean]

Thanks I don’t burn my fingers NOW... Cheers from very snowy Montreal (White Christmas absolutely this year)

[@pde442]

Nice Teaware

[@jennyobiliseen4301]

Hey Don! Some really exciting teaware I see!!! I’m not too geeky about it, I tend to sacrifice the ease for aesthetics, hence my excessive use of glass wares, but may I ask the animal product in the porcelain?

[@hotgee1]

Hi Don, got the gaiwan and it’s great quality. It would be great to see a video on types of kettle comparing stainless steel with cast iron tetsubin and clay kettles.

[@MeiLeaf]

OK we will try to do this one.

[@Currywurst-zo8oo]

When taking cup size into account there is an other effect you might want to consider. If you have a very tall and narrow cup(even higher than the sake cup) then the amount you have to tilt your neck decreases again because you are able to stick your nose inside the cup. The problem is that this is only possible with cups that have a large volume.

[@kylesalmon31]

I’m thinking about buying a Gaiwan. I’ve debated between a gaiwan,or the sorta standard pot.

[@MarinaC2112]

i got the sky blue gaiwan a couple of weeks ago (i think it's the old model because the saucer doesn't have a hole) and i ordered the gong dao bei and tulip cups this week, will they match in colour to the old gaiwan?

[@MeiLeaf]

Yes very close colour to the Sky Blue Gaiwan.

[@gickojerke1262]

and what was the capacity of the old sky blue gaiwan? Great video could watch stuff like this all day long :)

[@michmiz]

Advanced grip rule them all 😜

[@rincosmerta]

Is this gaiwan a new version? I'm asking because i already have a sky blue porcelain Gaiwan from you and it does not have a hole in the saucer.

[@MeiLeaf]

This is a different version. The original sky blue Gaiwan is a great piece.

[@ButTheGin]

Looking forward to seeing your 100ml gaiwan as the one I use at work isn't very finely made - the lid and saucer don't fit the gaiwan perfectly and the lid lifts the gaiwan when trying to sit it at the base, tho otherwise it's great, compared to your old sky blue gaiwan it's got wider flanges reducing spillage as I don't use a tea tray/boat at work, and it's thicker reducing finger burn. I just hope it won't have a hole in the saucer, as I don't wanna use a tea tray at work, over there I like to keep it super simple - 100ml gaiwan and a 100ml tall scotch shaped glass, and a strainer of course.

[@stationshelter]

ye should put a little LED in your tea tray to shine into the cup like that

[@MeiLeaf]

Good one!

[@suzisaintjames]

I noticed that the fairness cup doesn't have the brown accent banding at the top. Is that is intentional? xoxo from Arizona.

[@MeiLeaf]

The band does not look good around a spout and the thickness of the Gong Dao Bei would not suit the edging.

[@gickojerke1262]

will there be coming some 70 ml gaiwans at some point? For these times when you want to drink juuuuuust a bit of tea.

[@0730bcorm]

How often is cost reflective of quality? Do cheaper gaiwan have worse fitting lids and dribble a lot?

[@ldavis7555]

There may be something wrong with me.... I just was completely enthralled

[@apurvaksaha7977]

Although we know that alcohol & nicotine damage our taste buds. If I consume it so in which proportion I should consume it. If there has any tea which can make my taste buds healthy or stronger…please suggest me.

[@MeiLeaf]

We do not know what tea or chemicals are needed to strengthen taste buds sorry.

[@apurvaksaha7977]

Okay...Thanks for your prompt response

[@borishdx]

When will the new tie guan yin will be available ? :)

[@wesdashman]

Boris Hourdeaux it’s on their site a superior iron goddess. If you look at the scooenharvest is sept 2017!!

[@wesdashman]

Scope

[@borishdx]

oh ok I misunderstood thank you very much for your answer :)

[@mariannefleur6671]

The SIG oct 2017 is FANTASTIC, best of the best and a must have! I just ordered 250g and now regret it wasn’t 500g! But I’ve got sooo many great teas already (lifetime supply, it seems)! If you haven’t tried: go grab it! It smells like rose when dry, , tastes like honeysuckle and cream, tingles and feels like velvet, and has a warm, sweet, butterscotch dry cup aroma. Intoxicating in every way! Fav tea right now.

[@mresstell]

28:34 LOL!

[@tobiasinness9719]

Also have you ever tried to swallow with your head tipped back? it can be pretty uncomfortable from your Adam’s apple.

[@ReedJanicki]

Do you ship to the US?

[@MeiLeaf]

Yes every single day tea flies over to the US.

[@samtokyo8877]

When is your gaiwan set back in stock?

[@MeiLeaf]

+Sam Lui it is in stock, are you having any issues ordering? meileaf.com/teaware/blue-gaiwan/

[@samtokyo8877]

Mei Leaf I mean the guru set

[@MeiLeaf]

+Sam Lui ah, we should be releasing more in January

[@mystifiedoni377]

"Let's get a torch under this" Just in case you didn't know he's British.

[@nassozeebo]

If you don't want the saucer to catch the liquid, why use a saucer?

[@tobiasfrey8350]

Gong fu cha zeremonie 👍

[@JoshTerraMusic]

I broke my first Gaiwan because I burned myself by not pouring straight ahead. It was very sad

[@ranitadechocolate27]

Lol I got burned and broke my gaiwan for trying it!!! Good thing I have another gaiwan!

[@MeiLeaf]

Sorry! Practice with an empty gaiwan over a soft surface.

[@MarkasTZM]

The stronger your cannabis the more you need an audible timer for brewing. Words to live by. Please say high if you are familiar with forgetting your brew in the gaiwan more than once.

[@Contessamy]

Spiderman style!!! @_@

[@stationshelter]

hang on let me get out my protractor

[@MissSapz]

Please, stop using the term "geek" or "geeky" about everything. It causes a misunderstanding about this word and when I say I'm a geek, I need to "prove" I'm talking about pop culture, video games, sci-fi, science, etc. I'm a tea lover too. But in the geek community (as far as I know), we prefer that this term has one meaning. Thank you. I hope no one is offended by this comment. We can discuss about it if you want in a mature and calm way :)

[@boucaa]

I feel like the "fancy" ways of pouring from the gaiwan are way too pretentious, when I brew tea, I am doing it to enjoy it, not to impress anybody. But I totally get why people do it when they want to look cool and make you buy something from them. Anyway, interesting thoughts, thanks for the video!

[@lshooterl]

lol yunnansourcing have so many fake accounts in reddit and steepster

[@johntedonneraipasmonnom713]

Too bad there's this hole... If you don't want to brew on a tea boat, you're fucked...