Jingdezhen blue-and-white gaiwan, 100ml

青花瓷

A hand-painted classic — fine Jingdezhen porcelain with a balanced pour, perfect for seeing the liquor’s color and enjoying a clean, unaltered taste.

$95EUR · 110 g

Weight

110 g

Processing

Hand-thrown porcelain, underglaze cobalt-blue painting, high-fired in oxidation

Sourced by

Michael Zhan

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Sourced in Jingdezhen’s ancient kiln district

Michael Zhan visited the Hutian area of Jingdezhen in late spring 2024, walking the narrow lanes where porcelain has been made for over a thousand years. The gaiwan is thrown by a family workshop that still mixes its own kaolin and petunse, firing in a gas kiln at 1280°C. The blue pigment is hand-ground cobalt oxide, painted with a bamboo-handled brush while the body is leather-hard. Michael selected this batch after inspecting the fit of the lid — the signature of a well-made gaiwan. Each one has a subtle asymmetry in the painted lotus scroll, a deliberate fingerprint of the maker. The 100ml size is ideal for solo gongfu sessions or sharing a single round with a guest.

The leaf, brewed

A tactile, visual, and aromatic companion for gongfu sessions.

dry leaf

Kiln-smooth porcelain with a barely perceptible ripple from the hand-painted brushwork; the cobalt blue sits quietly under a clear glaze.

wet leaf

The saucer sits steady, the lid lifts without cling; after a hot rinse, the body warms evenly and quickly.

liquor

The white interior becomes a perfect canvas — any tea liquor glows against it, from pale silver needle to deep rock oolong.

aroma

Porcelain is neutral; it holds no memory and adds nothing, allowing the tea’s own fragrance to rise unmasked from the cup.

taste

A thin, crisp lid-lip that doesn’t lag the pour; the cup shape holds heat long enough for multiple infusions without scalding the fingers.

finish

The pour is a clean, uninterrupted ribbon from three-point opening — no drips, no hesitation — and the lid settles back with a soft ceramic whisper.

Brewing

A method, not a recipe.

Method

gongfu

Ratio

100ml capacity

Water temp

100

First infusion

Preheat with boiling water

Subsequent

Rinse with hot water after each session; allow to cool before washing

Hand wash only with a soft cloth. Avoid thermal shock — do not pour boiling water onto a cold gaiwan. Store in a padded box or on a dry tea tray.

Sourced by

Michael Zhan

Procurement & Sourcing Specialist (China)

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