|
|
| If
you already know how to handle a GaiWan, you can go straight
to GaiWan
and glass brewing.
|
|
| Taking
a GaiWan apart: plate, cup and & lid
|
|
|
GaiWan
was developed in the Ching Dynasty as an improvement from
previous drinking cups. I feel cool every time I drink with a GaiWan. Sometimes I even imagine I am an emperor when I have a
GaiWan in my hands. It's more than just a porcelain cup, it's
hundred years' of tea culture.
|
|
|
|
 Assume you are
right handed.
Put the GaiWan in the center of your palm. Spread your fingers to
support the bottom of the plate. Use your thumb to hold the rim of the cup.
Have your right hand standing by for
handling of the lid.
|
|
|
 Two things you need to do
constantly while drinking with a GaiWan:
1) to stir the tea
and;
2) to get into drinking position while keep the floating tea leaves out of the way.
For thing 1), you don't use a spoon
for the job, you use the lid to stir. Hold the
knob of the lid with your thumb and index finger. Dip the near
side of the
lid into the tea and you
can push the floating tea leaves outwards. With the
skillful use of the wrist, you can play around with the
floating tea leaves with style.
|
 |
| *
to avoid the conjecture that Kelly was naked during the
shooting, her sleeves are included in the PIC |
For thing 2), move the lid slightly off center to
create a gap small enough to stop tea leaves from coming out of
the GaiWan. Bring the GaiWan to your mouth with your left hand
while your right hand is keeping the lid in position.
Finally, it's time to
drink.
|
|
|
 If
you are serving tea with a GaiWan, remember to pass the GaiWan
with BOTH hands. Offering tea in a GaiWan, or any other cups,
with one hand is impolite. 
|
|
|
| We have done the hardware,
now we
can do the software - the brewing method - GaiWan
and glass brewing
|
|
|
