“The vessel is the father of Tea,” but what kind of tea ware should be used when brewing #Pu'er tea to best present its characteristics?

When choosing, start from a practical perspective and then consider aesthetics and overall coordination. There are various types of vessels for brewing tea, made from materials such as porcelain, clay, glass, etc., in different shapes, including teapots and #gaiwans, among others.

Today, I will share several commonly used tea wares for brewing Pu'er tea.

1. Gaiwan: Mr. Lu Xun once said, “To drink good tea, one must use a gaiwan.” Gaiwans are widely used and referred to as “versatile tea wares.” They can be used to Brew almost any type of tea. For those who have not yet mastered brewing techniques, they may find them a bit hot to handle. White porcelain gaiwans do not absorb the aroma of the tea, have good heat dissipation, are easy to control and clean. They do not alter the intrinsic properties of the tea and can well present the quality of the tea, effectively revealing both its strengths and weaknesses; they are convenient for smelling the aroma, appreciating the liquor, and observing the leaves, making them essential tea wares for daily tasting.

2. #Yixing Teapot: Yixing Teapots have thick walls and strong heat retention, which facilitates the release of the tea's internal qualities and aroma when brewing aged teas. Therefore, compared to other materials, Yixing teapots produce a more intense and lasting aroma in older teas. However, Yixing clay easily absorbs flavors, so it is recommended to use different pots for different teas to avoid mixing flavors that could affect the presentation of the tea's characteristics.

Note: Do not use Yixing teapots for brewing delicate teas; gaiwans are better suited. Yixing teapots are a good match for brewing Pu'er tea, but there are many instances of inferior products on the market.

3. Purple Clay Teapot: In recent years, purple clay teapots have received much praise from tea enthusiasts for brewing ripe Pu'er tea. When using a purple clay teapot, the brewed tea has a higher level of purity, and the liquor is softer and fuller, with a rich and mellow aged fragrance.

Tea Brewing Kettles: There are various materials for tea brewing kettles, such as silver, clay, iron, and glass. For those who enjoy brewing tea, we do not recommend using iron kettles. If the inner wall of an iron kettle has not been oxidized, the polyphenols in the tea will react chemically with the inner wall, causing the liquor to turn black. Choosing clay, silver, or glass kettles produces better results for brewing tea.

The liquor produced by a silver kettle tends to be finer, smoother, and silkier; those who enjoy watching the color of the liquor can choose a glass kettle.