Chinese Yi Xing Purple Clay Gaiwan Tea Cup

The purple clay cup as described on Amazon arrived in a small brown box. Each piece was perfectly fitting within this box (See photograph). Practical and innovative. It arrived in perfect condition. Beautifully crafted, matte finish. Unglazed., Deep rim in the saucer for the cup, and the lid fitment is perfect. Weight of all three pieces is about 247-grams/8.75-oz. Saucer 74.50-grams/2.6-oz, cup is 123.73-grams/4.37-oz, lid 49.76-grams/1.75-oz. When rocking the lid into the cup it sweeps to about 3.175-mm/.125-inches from the bottom of the cup allowing for easy stirring or moving tea leaves. Phenomenal craftsmanship. Great price. Fast delivery. Good solid weight in the hand. Comfortable to use. I would recommend. Kudos to design, production, shipping staff.

What a great little gaiwan for a great price! I love the look and feel, (and especially that this is one of those gaiwans that lets you rest the lid between the cup and saucer - not actually necessary, but a nice perk). It's also pretty thin, so if you want durability that could be an issue, but to me it's another plus: I prefer a fine, delicate feel for teaware.That said, the gaiwan I received actually arrived with a very small chip in the lid, and I considered docking a star for that. The reasons I'm still giving it five stars:1) It's my own decision not to return it for a replacement. (It was such a good price, and still perfectly functional.)2) The tiny chip gave me the chance to see the "paste" of the clay. One reviewer thought this was not real yixing clay, but just painted. Nope! The break shows clearly that this is very fine-grained, lovely purple-brown clay, no paint or glaze, just like the listing says.All in all a terrific purchase!

lid's a little warped and the cup rocks in the saucer some, but nothing I can't live with. All three parts have a nice clear ring to them when tapped. Oolong tastes great out of it.

When this arrived, I was convinced it was going to be broken because the box looked like someone had used it to play football; but upon opening, the tea cup was safely encased in foam that kept it safe and sound. Not even a scratch.If you're used to "mug" sized tea cups, this will seem very small, but it's a good size for holding as it doesn't have a handle. The clay is fine grain and good quality.

While it may not be the highest quality Yixing, it is certainly lovely, I drink tea from it all day. As with most Yixing it is best to use only one type of tea in this cup, green and white tea do not get the same benefits as an oolong or other black teas, but after you season it you’ll notice eat cup of tea taste better and better. To season follow these steps:Step 1: Fill the cup with your desired tea and pouring boiling water over it and wait three minutesStep 2: Drain the liquid into glazed ceramic or glass and pour the tea the lid, cup, and saucerStep 3: Refill cup to brim with your boiling water and let it sit 12-24 hourEvery time you use the cup, repeat step two only. This will enrich the clay with the tea developing a patina that will bring the richness of the cup to life and allow the natural oils of the tea to mix with the mineral content of the clay, while also heating the cup which retains heat very well, so that your tea stays hotter longer.

I don't write reviews much, but I have to for this gaiwan. I have owned it now for almost a year and use it multiple times a day. It is the perfect gaiwan for me. I love the feel of clay, the thickness, and the way it fits in my hand just right. I don't want to ever own another one in my life. I had the first one I ordered for quite a long time until I finally dropped it too many times and it broke. But it is actually quite sturdy given how rough I am on it. Truly, a perfect gaiwan and I hope this company continues to sell them exactly how they are.

How do I make tea in this? I have my tea from Japan now and this item too. These were recommended but I don’t know how to make tea in this. Do I need a strainer?

It is the gaiwan cup that shall be used to do gongfu tea,, used it once today, no complain, good for people not that picky :D