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Gongfu Tea Set: A gift for the pleasure of making tea
Gongfu brewing gives a tea enthusiast a series of small brews to taste. Choose a set for someone interested in the preparation, with useful vessels and room to enjoy the session.
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Choose for the way they enjoy tea
Gongfu brewing uses small vessels for successive infusions. It makes preparation and tasting part of the tea break. Interest in the process matters: liking a daily cup is not the same as wanting to learn a different way to brew.
Someone who talks about gaiwans or enjoys comparing loose-leaf teas may welcome a set. A person who mainly wants a quick mug before leaving home may find it less suited to their routine.
Look beyond the piece count
A gaiwan is a lidded bowl for brewing; a small teapot is another possible vessel. A serving pitcher receives the tea before it is shared between small tasting cups. Some sets add a draining tray or travel case.
Check the actual brewing vessel and its capacity.
Compare the number of cups, rather than the total of all accessories.
Look at instructions, tray cleaning and how the set packs away.
The right size depends on where they will use it. A compact case can suit someone taking their set away; a home setup needs a useful place for the tray and vessels. More decorative pieces do not necessarily improve the brewing.
Ready for a Christmas tea session
Choose around their experience and keep the instructions with the set. A tea tasting selection can be a useful extra when its loose leaves are suitable for this method. Keep the tea's brewing directions too, and remember that the set may not include a way to heat water.