Today, I really wanted to get into something I’ve been meaning to try for ages – the whole traditional Chinese tea set thing. So, I finally went for it. Started off by gathering all the bits and pieces I thought I’d need. I mean, I’ve seen those beautiful setups online, and I was like, “Yeah, I gotta do that.”

First things first, I grabbed a teapot. Not just any teapot, though. I picked up one of those classic Yixing ones. Heard a lot about how they’re supposed to make the tea taste better over time. I filled it up with water and got a feel for the pour. They mentioned online that oval spouts are better for not dripping, so I tested that out. Guess what? It actually worked! No drips. Also, I made sure the handle was comfy and didn’t strain my wrist when I lifted it full. That’s a win in my book.

• Checked out some teacups next. Found some cute little ones that matched the teapot.
• Then there was this thing called a Gaiwan. It’s like a cup with a lid and a saucer. Looks fancy, and I figured it’s for brewing the tea right in it.
• I also snagged a tea strainer because, you know, no one wants leaves in their teeth.

Now, for the tea itself. I remembered reading somewhere that good tea has these tiny hairs on the leaves. So, I got some loose leaf tea and brewed it up. And there they were, those little hairs floating on top! I was pretty chuffed about that, felt like I picked a good batch.

Brewed the tea in the Gaiwan, poured it through the strainer into the teacups, and bam! I had my first proper traditional Chinese tea experience. It was pretty cool, not gonna lie. The tea tasted amazing, and the whole process was just so calming and, like, zen. Definitely doing this again.

Cleanup was easy. Just rinsed everything out. I heard you’re not supposed to use soap on the Yixing teapot, so I didn’t. Just water. Packed everything back up neatly. All in all, a solid experience. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out.

So, yeah, that’s my little adventure with a traditional Chinese tea set. If you’re thinking about trying it, I’d say go for it. It’s a nice way to enjoy tea and just chill out for a bit. Plus, it looks super impressive when you have guests over. Trust me on that one!