Ru Yao Tea Set Love

So this just arrived. http://www.imperialtea.com/Ru_Yao_Tea_Set_p/tea-sets017.htm

After a washing up and a few steeps of milk oolong, I can confirm that my first gaiwan absolutely does make the tea taste better. I understood why that should be true, but I was still skeptical that my unrefined taste buds would detect a difference. It’s pretty clearly better.

On another note, this is a beautiful tea set. What a gorgeous pearly finish, and as at home in my ‘warm modern’ decor as it would be nearly anywhere else. I couldn’t be happier with it. While I’m at it, I’m also very happy with the $2-$2.50 tea canisters I purchased at Imperial too – they have a nice, satiny finish and tight-fitting lid, and I especially appreciate the small ones so I can keep more kinds of tea around without having to keep it too long. What a great FedEx day.