For the pleasure of Two - A unique blending of Chinese culture and Austalian outback.

Authentic Yixing Teapot or the three piece Gaiwan combined with delicately painted cups, set on a hand made Australian redwood tray.

Yixing teapots are meant for use with black and oolong teas, as well as aged pǔ’ěr tea. They can also be used for green or white tea, but the water must be allowed to cool to around 85 degrees Celsius before pouring the water into the pot. Yixing teapots absorb a tiny amount of tea into the pot during brewing. After prolonged use, the pot will develop a coating that retains the flavor and color of the tea. It is for this reason that soap should not be used to clean Yixing teapots. Instead, it should be rinsed with fresh water and allowed to air-dry. A studious tea connoisseur will only steep one type of tea in a particular pot, so as not to corrupt the flavor that has been absorbed.

The physical size of these fine teapots are smaller than Western counterparts and are ideally suited to Tea for Two.

The Gaiwan is a three-piece Chinese tea cup first created during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Gaiwans consist of three pieces: the bowl, the lid, and the saucer. Each piece fulfills a role in the act of drinking tea and adds to the overall functionality of the gaiwan. Aside from holding the tea, the bowl acts as brewing container and can be drunken from directly. The saucer insulates the bottom and allows the drinker to lift the cup without getting burned. Finally, the lid doubles as insulation and tool for stirring and holding back leaves while drinking.

We have combined the Gaiwan with two traditional Chinese tea cups to be enjoyed by two.

Tea connoisseurs praise the gaiwan as being the ideal vessel for drinking tea. Aside from the functionality of the cup, serving as both drinking and brewing vessel, the gaiwan has aesthetic value. Most gaiwan cups are made of either porcelain or glass. The whiteness or clearness of the cup contrasts with the color of the tea leaves and adds to the visual enjoyment of tea drinking. Gaiwans also bring out the subtle aroma of teas as the lid helps to capture the smell of the tea leaves as they steep. Lastly, gaiwan tea cups allow the drinker to experience tea authentically, as they would drink tea during the Ming Dynasty.