"Lewis Perin" wrote in message
news
Please don't consider this a visit from the Gaiwan Police. You are
within your rights not to use one, but maybe there are things you
haven't considered.

"Melinda" writes:
[...]
I have been thinking about this lately, I have about five gaiwans and
they
are nothing but a pain for me to do gung fu in, as far as pouring off the
liquid. I'll brew and drink from them (with pleasure) but using them as
brewing vessels for me is really difficult, partially because I have
really
tiny hands

Maybe you know this, but there are gaiwans available in many sizes,
including ones small enough for a child's hand.

but also because of the water temp.

In my experience, the difference between a gaiwan that's very hot to
the touch and one that's comfortable is a matter of how much the lip
flares. (More is better.)

They don't have a spout so my tea tends to go all over.

Maybe your trouble controlling the pour is related to the size and heat?

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html


More than likely you're right Lew, when I steep greens for two it's usually
in a bigger quantity than, say, 100 ml or so, so I try to use the larger
size. Also with greens, the leaves are smaller than oolongs, so I hold on
tighter to keep them from slipping out of the gaiwan and the tight hold
causes problems. I do have a shallower gaiwan with a wider lip, I don't know
that I've tried it yet but that will work well for an experiment

I suppose that if I were to want to actually work on this I'd start by
learning to pour water out of a gaiwan into another container without the
lid slipping and without any liquid dribbling down the side of the gaiwan.
It just seems easier (and also less disruptive to the whole gong fu-ing
experience) to use a glassware accoutrement for steeping greens though. My
trouble gongfu-ing wth the gaiwan though doesn't apply to everyone of
course, those who have a mastery of pouring out of a gaiwan have my
admiration.

-Melinda