The Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your First Gaiwan
A Gaiwan may look simple — a bowl, lid, with or without saucer — yet it is one of the most versatile and rewarding tools in tea. For beginners, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Shapes, sizes, materials, glazes… where do you start?
This guide helps you understand what truly matters so you can choose a Gaiwan that feels intuitive, comfortable, and elevates your daily tea ritual — whether you brew green tea, oolong, or anything in between. If you’re new to Gaiwan brewing, consider this your gentle introduction.
1. Why a Gaiwan Is Perfect for Beginners
Many people assume a Gaiwan is “advanced,” but in truth:
- It works for every kind of tea (green, white, oolong, puerh, herbal).
- It gives you full control over temperature, aroma, and steeping.
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It helps you discover tea’s true flavor, without filters or interference.
And because it’s easy to clean and extremely versatile, it becomes the one brewing tool you reach for again and again. In a world full of noise, brewing with a Gaiwan is a small act of calm — a way to carry calm wherever you go.
2. What to Look For in Your First Gaiwan
✓ Size: Choose 90–120 ml for the best beginner experience
A smaller Gaiwan gives you better control while pouring, more consistent tea flavor, easier handling for smaller hands, and less risk of overheating or spills. Glazara’s Energy Gaiwan (100 ml) is intentionally designed within this range — balanced, lightweight, and beginner-friendly.
✓ Shape & Balance: Smooth curve, easy grip
A beginner-friendly Gaiwan should sit comfortably in hand, have a lid knob that’s easy to hold, and pour cleanly without dripping. The smoother the rim, the easier and calmer your brewing becomes.
✓ Material: Why porcelain is best for beginners
Porcelain is neutral (no flavor absorption), works with all teas, is easy to rinse and clean, and also shows color changes beautifully. Porcelain from Jingdezhen, like Glazara’s pieces, is especially prized for its heat stability, smooth walls, luminous and high-fired glaze. Perfect for building an intuitive tea ritual.
✓ Glaze: Choose high-fired, food-safe glazes
Many beginners worry about glaze safety — especially when the colors are luminous or complex. Glazara’s porcelain is high-fired around 1,300°C, lead-free & cadmium-free, and compliant with international food safety standards. That means the glowing, layered glazes you see — whether ocean blue, misty green, or earthy neutrals — are as safe as they are beautiful.
3. How to Know If a Gaiwan Is “Right” for You
Hold it. Touch it. See how it feels. A good beginner Gaiwan feels balanced in one hand and lets your fingers rest naturally on the rim. It should pour without hesitation and make you want to slow down and brew. The best signs you’ve found “your” Gaiwan? You feel calm holding it — and excited to use it.
4. Why the Energy Gaiwan Is Ideal for First-Time Users
Designed in collaboration with Jingdezhen artisans, the Energy Gaiwan blends beginner-friendly size, effortless pouring, balanced weight, soothing and nature-inspired glazes, as well as contemporary minimalism. Each piece is fired individually, resulting in unique glaze expressions — no two Gaiwans are ever the same. It’s a functional tool, a piece of heritage, and a daily reminder to return to your center.
5. A Simple Brewing Method to Start With
Here’s an easy method for beginners:
① Warm the Gaiwan
Pour in hot water and empty it.
② Add tea (3–5g)
Green, white, oolong — anything works.
③ Pour in hot water
At the temperature suitable for your tea.
④ Steep briefly
Most teas need just 5–15 seconds.
⑤ Pour smoothly
Hold the lid slightly tilted and release.
That’s it.
No complicated steps — just a few intentional minutes.
6. Ready to Begin Your Tea Ritual?
Choosing your first Gaiwan is choosing your first calm moment of the day. If you’re starting your journey, the Energy Gaiwan is crafted to feel intuitive, elegant, and grounding — perfect for new brewers and seasoned tea lovers alike.