a) Does this specific clay pot work better for this specific tea type than a neutral Gaiwan?
b) Which of these generally suitable clay pots works best for this specific tea type?
The approach here is to first understand the effect of the clay on the liquor, without considering other aspects of the pot that will eventually affect the brew, and only advance pots that are a good match to the stage where the remaining thermal properties, and shape, will determine an ideal pairing. This two-stage approach should ensure that both aspects serve to improve the tea, rather than just one, or, if left unquestioned, perhaps none.
To make these experiments more accurate, it is best if the Gaiwan, Gong Dao Bei, and Cups are truly neutral, i.e., made from porcelain or glass. The comparison cups should also be the exact same to avoid perceived differences due to shape alone. Brewing nice and strong will make for a bit more forced astringency and bitterness to keep track of.
Blue shows brewing vessels, anything grey is just liquor transfer.
a) This is to determine whether any given pot should be chosen over a neutral Gaiwan for any given tea type.
- Brew a strong infusion in a neutral Gaiwan
- Decant the liquor into a neutral Gong Dao Bei
- Transfer half of the liquor into the Clay Pot
- After a few seconds, empty the Clay Pot into Cup A
- Transfer the remaining half of the liquor in the Gong Dao Bei to Cup B
- Let the liquor cool down to room temperature and compare
If the liquor that passed through the clay tastes improved by whatever standards you have, it makes sense to confirm that the thermal behaviour of the pot is also conducive, since the heat retention of the pot may on its own enhance or ruin the tea. Keep an eye on consistent brewing parameters.
- Brew several infusions as you normally would from the Clay Pot to Cup A
- Brew several infusions as you normally would from the Gaiwan to Cup B
- Continue to adjust and compare to see which vessel consistently produces better results
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b) This is to determine which of several clay options is best suited for a specific tea type, once it has been established that each pot in the running is better suited than a neutral Gaiwan. You may have to use a large Gong Dao Bei and stack a few infusions if you have many pots to fill with the same liquor.
- Brew a strong infusion in a neutral Gaiwan
- Decant the liquor into a neutral Gong Dao Bei
- Transfer part of the liquor into each available Clay Pot
- After a few seconds, empty each Clay Pot into a different Cup
- Let the liquor cool down to room temperature and compare
Granted, this approach is not very romantic, and it is of course just as valid to take it slow and easy and feel out the right pairing over many sessions whilst watching the seasons flow and ebb, ebb and flow.
How do you go about it?