If I had someone custom turn me a Gaiwan on a lathe, out of either stainless, or aluminum, would it be the coolest thing ever, or a colossal waste of time and money?
Metal Gaiwan?
- Thread starter Fnord5
- Start date
i wonder if some teas may react with the metal, though? don't know, just throwing it out there
i'm not a master tea drinker by any stretch, but i do know my metal, stainless and aluminum(to a lesser degree) conduct heat very well... like, your gaiwan would be the same temperature as the tea inside it in a matter of seconds,
why are some teacups made of cast iron you ask? because cast iron conducts at a much slower, steadier rate, and has slight insulating properties, so that the cup warms up slow but stays enough degrees below the tea temperature, that it's comfortable to hold, usually, also, they are textured on the outside, or have enamel coating of somesort , and the texturing helps to disperse heat through a higher surface area, and more angular avenues for heat to escape, ( in the same way that "Rusticated" or textured tobacco pipes are cooler in the hand than smooth finished pipes
stainless... you might as well be holding boiling water (or slightly less than boiling water for green tea) personally , that would be a big no thank you from me,
a better use of your money would be to get someone who works with clay to throw you a custom one
my .02
why are some teacups made of cast iron you ask? because cast iron conducts at a much slower, steadier rate, and has slight insulating properties, so that the cup warms up slow but stays enough degrees below the tea temperature, that it's comfortable to hold, usually, also, they are textured on the outside, or have enamel coating of somesort , and the texturing helps to disperse heat through a higher surface area, and more angular avenues for heat to escape, ( in the same way that "Rusticated" or textured tobacco pipes are cooler in the hand than smooth finished pipes
stainless... you might as well be holding boiling water (or slightly less than boiling water for green tea) personally , that would be a big no thank you from me,
a better use of your money would be to get someone who works with clay to throw you a custom one
my .02
metal might make it too hot to handle...but just for aesthetics it could look awesome, especially if it's embossed with something "Asian," like twin dragons or something. Maybe silver might be more realistic to use, though it would probably be really expensive
- Thread starter
- #5
What I was thinking, is stainless, because it is less reactive, and more than durable enough to just be able to be tossed into my lunch bag for work.
Then machine a groove, below the lip of the cup, and fill with silicone, (maybe a tube in the right diameter) to provide insulation, and on the top, the little handle could be a silicone/plastic drawer pull knob.
I was thinking plain brushed/fresh machined surface, but polished inside.
I'm gonna shoot Cooncat a PM, after another cup of tea.
Then machine a groove, below the lip of the cup, and fill with silicone, (maybe a tube in the right diameter) to provide insulation, and on the top, the little handle could be a silicone/plastic drawer pull knob.
I was thinking plain brushed/fresh machined surface, but polished inside.
I'm gonna shoot Cooncat a PM, after another cup of tea.
When using porcelain gaiwans I use the two fingers on the sides of the top with one finger on the very top approach, and sometimes even porcelain gets too hot. I do have callouses there now on each of those fingertips, but still I don't think a metal gaiwan is a good idea.
Metal might add some metallic undertones to the tea. I think there is a reason no one sells them.
I'd say save your cash. Drinking fine tea out of a stainless steel cup isn't very tasty - quite metallic. Brewing tea in stainless steel can't be much better.
As for aluminium... http://alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/406
Luckily, porcelain gaiwans work pretty well though
As for aluminium... http://alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/406
Luckily, porcelain gaiwans work pretty well though
