New Tea Set Up & Teaware

[ambrose]

After my portable gong fu table was showing signs of wear. I decided to get a new set up and kept it simple.

I picked up a bamboo mat and a black mat, some kind of leather looking non leather non water absorbent mat, a waste bowl all at pier one and target. I love the modern yet zen like simplicity of it all. The cost was cheap! each item cost me $2-$5.

I also picked up some new tea wear, mostly Celadon from the Ru kiln oh so smooth! look out for my teaware clearance soon.

For my first use I brewed up some oh so smooth and fantastic Yunnan Pure Small Bud Black Tea - Gold Tips from our bud Steve at jas-etea Its just me drinking but I just wanted to try out my new cups.
Second use was some 09 Yunnan Pure Bud Bi Luo Chun Green tea.

Pictured

Clear Glass Mesh Strainer

Mini Ru Kiln Celeste Celadon Gaiwan

Jingasa Moon White Ru Kiln Celadon Teacups

Moon White Ru Kiln Celadon Chan Ding Teacup

Double Wall Clear Glass Cha Hai Tea Pitcher

 

[StillShaving]

Nice. Which cup is the closest one in the foreground? Is it made out of porcelain? Looks like it could do double duty for espresso.

 

[ambrose]

Its celadon porcelain from the Ru kiln, its 120 ml so its more of a tea bowl than a cup but it would make a fine vessel for espresso. Its called Moon White Ru Kiln Celadon Chan Ding Teacup.

 

[tea goober]

Nice cups Ambrose. Ive been collecting Celadon for a while now. Where did you score the Ru Kiln pieces from? DTH ? Some of my collection I got from Hou De,s a couple of years ago. They have fractured a lot since this pic was taken. I,m a sucker for Celadon, cant get enough of it.

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[ambrose]

Thank you bud, the pics I posted dont do the pieces justice. You have some beautiful pieces there!!! Ive actually seen that set on your blog recently Beautiful! Oh yes I picked them up from DTH. After drinking tea all night, Ive decided I am head over heals for celadon. I love the tea bowl in particular so smooth to the lips and warms the hands well. I love the shape of it and the capacity, it will be my new daily large cup. The smaller ones are fantastic as well, very inviting and let the tea cool very fast. They are also great to see the tea color against the glaze the rims are already veining beautifully, oh and they slurp off the rim like a dream.

I have mixed thoughts on the gaiwan I need some more time with it.

Im actually looking for another celadon gaiwan at the moment and might as well get a few more cups to go with it huh

Too bad youre 7 hrs away, would be fun to hang out and gong fu cha. Did you see I picked up some yunnan gold tips? Very nice breakfast or pick me up desert !

 

[netsurfr]

Nice setup there Ambrose! Looks very elegant.

 

[SiBurning]

How's the mat working out for you?

I spill a lot of water and a little tea. Maybe you're neater, but could you also compare the pros and cons of cleaning up between this set up and the portable table.

 

[ambrose]

I still use the same set up to this day I like the look and the clean up. What I do is place that tea towel under my gear while I brew. It catches all the little drips and dribble. That mat is water proof so spills if any are a breeze. The waste bowl just a bowl from target, once its full and dirty I just empty and wash it. I sometimes brew on a bamboo mat which is also great but I have the black mat under. This set up will teach you to be more precise on your pouring in no time. I will often take a tea towel aka wash cloth, with me to friends houses. I pack a pot, come cups, and a pitcher this all fits on top of just a tea towel. I then use this to brew on and is just perfect and simple.

 

[SiBurning]

I like the simplicity of it. I've been holding off getting a bamboo table with the straining top. Seems like a normal tray with a lip would suit me better. This is giving me ideas. Maybe some kind of mat inside the tray. Then I don't have to worry so much about materials and keeping the inside of the tray looking spiffy. The one I'm using now is round and not quite right.

 

[Barbash]

Very nice looking setup Ambrose!

 

[ambrose]

Thank you guys