My local tea shoppe was having a sell on some promotional items from
the various big tea sites. I walked in and there was some tea blossoms
brewing in a couple of these pitchers. It is 420ml/14oz. The pitcher
is thick glass and magnifies the blossom 2x which impressed me the
most. The body is bowed so the blossom won't fall out even if held
vertical when pouring out the last drop. The handle never gets hot.
It has a good lip so you won't spill a drop no matter how full. The
box doesn't say anything about blossoms just to be used with paper
filters. If you look there is a filter basket that goes with it which
I also got. I use the filter basket top as a lid which isn't
absolutely necessary. I got an Upton electric 1 liter SS detachable
kettle with variable thermostat for about half...

That's a very pretty jug. I recently bought two similar ones from ITC
which are a little more squat:

http://tinyurl.com/arxa4

There's something satisfying about thick glass. Conversely, there's
something unsatisfying about thin glass. I recently bought three of
these from Dragon Tea House:

http://tinyurl.com/vqj7l

The service from this vendor is excellent (he very kindly offered to
resend another saucer that was cracked in transit), but the gaiwans are
exceptionally thin glass. This means that I can no longer pour with
one hand: the lid becomes so hot when pouring that one cannot hold the
lid on with just a thumb. I have to use the other hand to gingerly
hold the lid at its edges, which is a pity.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good thick-glass gaiwan? The
thicker and heavier, the better.

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

Have you tried a tea blossom in yours? My glassware before this one
was too big. Mine probably gives me 8 oz of tea with the blossom
displacement. I don't top it off. Mine also makes needles look sexy.
I've tried bushy stem teas also with good visual results. I wonder if
these are generic pitchers with thick magnifying glass? I'll check out
a gourmet kitchen store soon. I second Gordon at DTH. I'll have to
get some glass gaiwans on the next order. My local tea shoppe is
moving into a brand new building nearby. The owner says he needs more
tables, more kitchen, more shelving, more storage, more counter, more
of everything. January is his fourth year in business.

Jim

HobbesOxon wrote:

I *think* this is the same sturdy gaiwan that serves me reliably at work:

http://www.tenren.com/gljacupg.html

I bought mine at a bricks-and-mortar Ten Ren in New York.

/Lew

Michael Plant wrote:

It seems like the one that Hobbes got and the one that Lew got are a
bit different in proportions -- the one Lew got has more space between
the rim and where the lid rests, whereas the one Hobbes got has almost
no space at all.

It usually becomes pretty tempting to pour to where the lid is..... or
close, anyway, and once you place the lid, the water oozes up a little,
which means it will be right up to the rim in Hobbes' case.... and
making the rim extremely hot.

Try pouring less :). It might work better and not burn your fingers.

MarshalN
http://www.xanga.com/MarshalN

Michael Plant pipeline.com> writes:

When they ask me where have all the flowers gone, I'll have an
ironclad alibi.

Michael Plant pipeline.com> writes:

I would call it medium thickness, actually: nowhere near as thin as
some porcelain.

/Lew

I have one from ITC that's great. However it's kind of large (7 oz or
so). YSLLC has one that Scott recommends.

HobbesOxon wrote:

On Nov 21, 5:59 am, Michael Plant pipeline.com> wrote:

First, I can use less tea, drink less of each kind

My dear friend Michael,
guilt??? whatcha talking about???? Mostly I use a cup (old coffee cups)
with a simple thin cup size metal or mesh filter and still drink 20
cups a day Heh... WHat I fell guilty about (just minldly tho) is all
the tea ware I have from the travel mug (the one with the hologram) to
expensive yixixng, multiple very nice gaiwans and now I want this one
too (the glass one) I am not a teaware collector but it looks like that
on my shelves and cabinets. Never ever feel guilty of how much tea you
drink. I thnk sometimes maybe I feel bad when I cannot take time at
work to steep my cup more than once.
Maybe cups is wrong, I use mostly a gallon of purified water at home on
a day I am off and drinking tea which I cannot do at work. Drink up,
dont feel guilty and I am lusting after the beautiful clear glass ...

snip snip

Michael, I have some great stuff from Jings tea shop their tea ware is
unsurpassed in what I have seen thus far. You can see thru then when
held up to light and I use them for tasting. NIce stuff... Umm their
tea is good too...