cuppaT said 2012-10-21 13:51:28 -0400

Teacup Question

Does anyone know anything about Mrs. Lin’s Kitchen? It’s an online Asian gift shop operating in California. I recently fell in love with this cup:
http://www.mrslinskitchen.com/t1791.html
It appears to be the same one sold by Art of Tea. Think it’s anywhere near authentic? I’d like trying a Yixing cup for my pu-erh teas, as I cannot quite justify buying a special teapot yet. TIA people!

11 Replies

Azzrian said 2012-10-21 14:05:38 -0400

Its not that expensive – I would get it! Its very cool looking! :)

Nik said 2012-10-25 03:46:35 -0400

I can see why! That cup is gorgeous. I really love simple, non-traditional shapes. Adding this to my own wish list. =)

Dixie_Amazon said 2012-10-25 07:34:54 -0400

I don’t know anything about the vendor, but is you order before the end of October be sure to use the coupon codes!
http://www.mrslinskitchen.com/coupon.html

cuppaT said 2012-10-25 12:32:20 -0400

Thanks, Dixie. Yeah, that coupon definitely made the cups even more attractive!

Michelle said 2012-10-25 11:17:15 -0400

Be careful though, because the teacup will definitely get hot. It’s beautiful, and I love the shape, but I have a yixing teacup that burns my fingers until I let the water cool down.

cuppaT said 2012-10-25 12:34:54 -0400

Hmmm, thanks for the advice; I hadn’t thought of that. It’s a pretty large cup, though; maybe if keep the level down a bit…

Michelle said 2012-10-25 14:01:56 -0400

It definitely might. I’m not trying to discourage you, and I love my yixing teacup! It’s just something to consider :)

cuppaT said 2012-10-25 12:41:18 -0400

Thank you, everyone! I do think I will order a couple of these — one black and one brown — for pu-erh and something else (lapsang souchong? jasmine? oolong?). Whatever, I’m sure I’ll find a tea to mate it with. ;o)

cuppaT said 2012-11-04 18:17:57 -0500

My cups (and their cunning little saucers) arrived yesterday from Mrs. Lin’s — wrapped in paper and bubble wrap and individually boxed within a much larger box full of packing peanuts. Seldom have I seen merchandise so professionally and protectively packaged.

They’re large and earthy-looking and fit perfectly cupped in two hands as an offering to my tummy. (Yes, Michelle, I’ll take care not to burn myself.)

And they smell like pottery clay. Very seriously like pottery clay.

So how do I prepare them for use? I was thinking fill and douse with boiling water several times and then letting brewed pu-erh and oolong (respectively) steep in them overnight, or maybe immersing both mug and saucer in a large pot of tea so as to hit all exposed areas. How do you guys prepare a new yixing pot? I will do a search in the Discussion files but welcome any answers here as well. Thanks muchly!

mrmopar said 2012-11-04 22:09:29 -0500

boil for an hour with a cloth in the bottom to keep them from bouncing around. pull them out let them cool to room temperature. after they cool boil enough water to cover them, add the tea you want to ‘season’ them with put the tea and the cups in cut the heat off and let it set overnight. this is how i season all mine there may be a better way but this is how mine are done.

cuppaT said 2012-11-05 11:56:22 -0500

Thanks so much, mrmopar. I can do that!