Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get into traditional tea brewing for a while now. I finally took the plunge and decided to put together my own oriental tea set. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey!

Getting Started

First, I started by doing some digging online. I looked at tons of pictures and read a bunch of articles about different types of teaware. Honestly, it was a little overwhelming at first. There are so many options! Gaiwans, Yixing pots, kyusu… I had no clue where to even begin.

The Hunt Begins

After I got a basic idea of what I might want, I started hitting up some local shops. I figured it would be best to see things in person. I checked out a few antique stores, hoping to find something unique and maybe with a bit of history. I also visited a couple of specialty tea shops. They had some really beautiful pieces, but some of them were way out of my price range.

Building My Set

• I finally found a simple, white porcelain gaiwan that I really liked. It felt good in my hand, and it wasn’t too expensive. That was my starting point.
• Next, I needed some cups. I opted for some small, handleless cups in a similar style to the gaiwan. They came in a set of four, which is perfect.
• I found small tea pet,I like it very much.
• Then, I picked up a bamboo tea tray. It’s nothing fancy, but it does the job of catching any spills and looks pretty nice.
• I also grabbed a tea strainer and a small pitcher to serve the tea from. Gotta have those!

Making Tea!

The small tea pet is the finishing touch that makes the whole tea set more personal.I like it very much.

Finally, I brewed my first pot of tea using my new set! It was a simple oolong, but it felt so much more special using the proper teaware. The whole process felt more mindful and relaxing. I’m definitely hooked! I can’t wait to keep practicing and learning more about the art of tea.