ICHAG Yangzhi Jade Portable Gongfu Tea Set

It's one of the more beginner-friendly options because you get every piece you need in one purchase — no guessing about what gaiwan size to buy or whether you need a strainer. Reviewers specifically call it a 'good starter set' and note it's a relatively affordable entry point into Gongfu tea. The suspended gaiwan design also makes pouring a bit easier, which helps when you're still getting the hang of it. The main downside for beginners is that there's no instruction manual included, so you'll want to do a little research on Gongfu brewing technique before diving in.

The ICHAG set makes a genuinely impressive gift for several occasions. Reviewers specifically mention it as a great housewarming gift, Father's Day present, or gift for tea lovers in general. The Yangzhi jade-style porcelain and the color-changing tea pet give it a real wow factor when someone opens it. The premium carrying case also helps — it feels like you're giving something special, not just a box of loose pieces. It's particularly good for someone curious about Chinese tea culture but who hasn't invested in their own set yet.

A suspended gaiwan is a design where the lid sits in a slightly elevated or floating position relative to the bowl, creating a built-in gap for pouring. In the ICHAG set, this means you can pour tea from the gaiwan more easily without the lid slipping or needing perfect finger placement — a common struggle for beginners with traditional gaiwans. It's a practical design touch that makes the brewing process smoother, especially when you're doing rapid successive infusions during a Gongfu session.

Quite fragile, honestly. Multiple reviewers note that the porcelain pieces are delicate, which is typical of quality tea ware but worth knowing upfront. The carrying case helps a lot for transport, and the pieces hold up fine with normal careful use. But this isn't a set you'd want in a house with young kids running around, or for situations where things get knocked off tables. Treat it like you would any fine porcelain — handle with care, and it'll last. If you need something more rugged for daily use, a sturdier stoneware set might be a better fit.

About 1.5 oz each — roughly shot glass size. If you've never done Gongfu-style brewing, this can feel surprisingly tiny. But it's completely intentional and authentic. In Gongfu tea, you steep the same leaves many times in quick succession, so you're drinking many small pours rather than one big mug. You'll easily go through 6-8 steeps in a session. That said, if you're looking for a tea set to make a regular cup of tea, this isn't designed for that. It's specifically built for the traditional Chinese multi-infusion style.

Yes — plan on giving it a thorough wash before your first brew. A couple of reviewers mention receiving their set with sawdust or bamboo debris from the tray, and one noted staining on the tea cloth. This seems to be a packaging issue rather than a quality issue. Rinse all the porcelain pieces with warm water, wipe down the bamboo tray, and you should be good. It's a minor hassle, but not unusual for tea sets that come in fitted carrying cases with bamboo components.

Reviewers mention it works well for office use, and the compact size is actually a plus here — it doesn't take up much desk space. The carrying case makes it easy to store in a drawer or bring in from home. The Gongfu process of doing multiple short steeps is a nice way to pace yourself through a work afternoon. Just keep in mind you'll need access to hot water, and the ceremony does involve pouring and draining, so a small towel or tray underneath is helpful. The set's elegant appearance also tends to be a conversation starter with coworkers.

Reviewers who received undamaged sets are generally impressed with the quality for the price — the Yangzhi jade porcelain looks elegant and the craftsmanship is solid. Where you'd see differences versus higher-end sets is mainly in the bamboo tray (which some reviewers find flimsy compared to the ceramic pieces) and in the overall consistency of quality control. Premium sets from established Chinese tea ware brands will have better trays, thicker porcelain, and more consistent finishing. But as an entry point to Gongfu brewing, the ICHAG set punches above its price point on the pieces that matter most — the gaiwan and cups.

Gongfu tea cups are intentionally small — usually around 1-2 oz — because the whole point of Gongfu brewing is multiple short infusions of the same leaves. You're sipping concentrated, flavorful tea in small amounts and re-steeping many times, which lets you experience how the flavor evolves with each pour. The ICHAG set's cups are about 1.5 oz (shot glass size), which is authentic for Gongfu style. If you're used to Western-style mugs, it can feel tiny at first, but that's exactly how traditional Chinese tea ceremonies work.

A Gongfu tea tray catches overflow water during the tea ceremony — when you rinse the leaves, warm the cups, or pour off excess tea, the liquid drains into the tray. The ICHAG set includes a bamboo tea tray for this purpose, though it's worth noting that reviewers find the bamboo tray to be the weakest component of the set. The ceramic pieces are the real stars here. If you're serious about the tray, you might eventually want to upgrade to a standalone one, but for getting started and especially for travel, the included tray does the job.

For Gongfu tea, porcelain is generally preferred because it doesn't absorb flavors between sessions, heats evenly, and is easy to clean. The ICHAG set uses a porcelain/ceramic construction that reviewers describe as good quality, with an elegant Yangzhi jade appearance. Porcelain also lets you appreciate the tea's color clearly, which is part of the Gongfu experience. The tradeoff is fragility — several reviewers note the pieces are quite delicate — but that's the nature of fine porcelain tea ware.

It depends on what kind of tea experience you want. If you're interested in traditional Chinese Gongfu-style brewing — multiple short infusions, small cups, the whole meditative ritual — the ICHAG set is a solid starter option because it includes all 14 pieces you need: gaiwan, cups, pitcher, tea pet, tray, and carrying case. You don't have to piece things together separately. For beginners, the complete-set approach removes the guesswork. Just be aware that Gongfu cups are small (about 1.5 oz), so if you want big mugs of tea, this style isn't for that.

With the ICHAG Gongfu set, the basic process is: First, heat water to the right temperature for your tea type. Warm the gaiwan and cups by pouring hot water over them (this is where the tea tray catches the overflow). Add tea leaves to the gaiwan, do a quick rinse steep that you discard, then begin your real infusions — short steeps of 10-30 seconds, pouring into the sharing pitcher first, then into individual cups. Each successive infusion can be slightly longer. The suspended gaiwan design in this set makes pouring smoother. And don't forget the tea pet — pour a little tea over it and watch it change color.

In Chinese tea culture, there are a few customs worth knowing. The host always serves guests first — pour tea for others before yourself. Hold small cups with your thumb and index finger, supporting the bottom with your middle finger. When someone pours tea for you, tapping two fingers on the table is a traditional way to say thank you. With the ICHAG set, the sharing pitcher (cha hai) is key to etiquette — pour into it first so everyone gets tea of equal strength, rather than pouring directly into cups where the first and last pours taste different. Reviewers note this set creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests, which is really the heart of Chinese tea etiquette.

Traditional Chinese tea sets are valued for their material quality, craftsmanship, and how well they perform the Gongfu ceremony. High-end sets use Yixing clay or fine porcelain, and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. The ICHAG set positions itself as an affordable entry point with its Yangzhi jade-style porcelain, which has an elegant white appearance. Reviewers are generally pleasantly surprised at the quality for the price — the ceramic pieces look and feel premium. Where it cuts corners is the bamboo tray, which doesn't quite match the ceramic quality. For a starter set, though, the value proposition is solid.

This Gongfu set is designed for Chinese loose leaf teas — oolongs, pu-erh, white teas, and Chinese green teas are ideal. These teas are meant to be steeped multiple times, which is exactly what the small gaiwan and cups are built for. Oolongs like Tie Guan Yin or Da Hong Pao are classic choices that really shine with Gongfu brewing. You can also use it with Japanese green teas or even some black teas, though the small cup size works best with teas that reward multiple infusions. Avoid tea bags — this set is all about loose leaf.

The ICHAG set is actually well-suited for beginners because it's a complete 14-piece Gongfu setup — you get everything you need without having to know what to buy separately. Reviewers specifically call it a 'good starter set.' Start simple: heat water, warm your gaiwan and cups, add about 5g of loose leaf tea, rinse once, then do short steeps of 15-20 seconds. Pour into the pitcher first, then into cups. Don't overthink it at first — the beauty of Gongfu is that you get many steeps to experiment. One thing to note: the set doesn't come with instructions, so watching a quick YouTube tutorial on Gongfu brewing before your first session will help a lot.

With the ICHAG Gongfu set, you'll use the gaiwan (lidded bowl) as your main brewer. Add loose leaf tea — oolongs, pu-erh, and Chinese green teas work especially well with Gongfu brewing. Pour hot water in, steep for just 10-30 seconds, then pour everything into the sharing pitcher using the gaiwan lid to strain the leaves. From the pitcher, pour into the small cups. You'll repeat this process many times with the same leaves, gradually increasing steep time. Each infusion brings out different flavors. The whole process is meant to be slow and intentional — it's as much about the ritual as the tea itself.

Gongfu brewing really shines with Chinese teas — aged pu-erh, Wuyi rock oolongs (like Da Hong Pao), Tie Guan Yin, and high-mountain oolongs are classics. These teas are complex enough to reward the multiple short infusions that Gongfu is designed for. The ICHAG set's gaiwan and small cups are specifically sized for this style. You can absolutely start with more affordable teas to learn the technique, but once you're comfortable, trying a quality oolong or pu-erh in this set is where the Gongfu experience really comes alive.