Gong Dao Bei: Why Your Tea Table Needs a Fair Cup
A small pitcher with a big job: making sure every cup of tea tastes exactly the same.
When you pour directly from a teapot into several cups, the first cup is lighter and the last is stronger. The gong dao bei — literally the "cup of fairness" — solves this.
How it works
Pour the entire infusion into the fair cup first. The tea mixes evenly, and you can then pour equal cups for everyone. It also stops the brewing immediately, so the leaves do not over-steep.
Glass or ceramic?
- Glass lets you admire the colour of the tea and judge its strength.
- Porcelain and Ru ware keep the tea warm a little longer and match a ceramic tea set.
Choosing the right size
Pick a fair cup slightly larger than your teapot or gaiwan so a full infusion fits without spilling.
