Comments on: A Bit About Gongfu

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:06:19 +0000

Thank you for the clarification that they are called “tea toys” in Chinese. Some of them are really silly, like the peeing little boys, but I like the more symbolic and mythical figure ones.

By: Warren

Warren — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:00:25 +0000

The interesting thing you’re talking about, are zisha clay sculptures, probably formed in moulds and mass-produced. They add quirkiness to tea enjoyment. I have seen fat Buddhas, money frogs, phallic emblems, etc. They come in all kinds of sizes, shades and types. They’re just called “tea toys” in Chinese. They really don’t have any useful function. But they just add to the curiosity of drinking tea.

By: Phyll

Phyll — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:56:12 +0000

“Call it vanity if you will, but I really like the artistry and variance of the appropriate and specific vessels and tools themselves, and their role in specific tea rituals from many different regions and cultural traditions. Part of the enjoyment of tea for me is visual, conceptual and tactile. ”

Absolutely in agreement there. Well put. That’s why I’ve spent too much on tea accessories these past years. I’m just saying that barring such accessories, one can still try to emulate the gongfu brewing process by making use of the things that we already have at home to get a good cuppa. (I’m not saying that a good cup of tea can only be gotten with gongfu style brewing).

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:21:10 +0000

Thank you. Yours are excellent suggestions for a more practical approach to brewing gongfu style tea. I would hope that people would be interested enough in brewing good tasting Chinese teas that they would not be inhibited by the cost of expensive tea accessories.

I’m not very good at compromising such things myself, but I’m more compulsively specific than most people. Call it vanity if you will, but I really like the artistry and variance of the appropriate and specific vessels and tools themselves, and their role in specific tea rituals from many different regions and cultural traditions. Part of the enjoyment of tea for me is visual, conceptual and tactile. This is not to say that the taste is not of paramount importance, of course. All of the fluff and decoration is wasted if the leaves are undeserving of their treatment.

By: Phyll

Phyll — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:13:18 +0000

Yes, going gongfu tends to make one rather obsessive about finding new pots, cups, tools, etc. for the sake of collection. But really, the bare minimum requires only a small porcelain tea pot (100 – 200ml) or a gaiwan…and everything else can be improvised. Here is a thought:

Teapot – get one made from porcelain so that it can be used for many types of tea without mixing flavors (purists think Yixing pot should be dedicated to a tea or one type of tea).

Fairness cup — no need…just pour straight into the cups.

Cups – you can use smallish coffee cups that you already have at home…or a mug.

Tea tray – you can just use a soup plate to place the teapot inside…something that can capture the excess water.

Waste bowl — just use a largish soup bowl to dump the excess water from the tea tray

Toothpick — to unclog the spout of the pot, if needed.

Stove and kettle — I think most homes have these already.

Oh yeah, and of course, you need some Chinese tea.

It’s not going to be the most elegant set-up, but hey…the goal is to brew a tea well. Everything else is, well, vanity, including that Buddha’s foot thingy.