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What is a gong dao bei?
A gong dao bei (公道杯 — literally "cup of fairness", also spelled gongdaobei and known as cha hai, "sea of tea") is the small pitcher that sits between the brewing vessel and the cups in gongfu tea. Tea poured straight from a gaiwan changes as it flows: the first drops are light, the last are strong and concentrated. Decanted into the pitcher first, the whole infusion blends into one even strength — so every guest drinks exactly the same cup. That is the "fairness". Just as usefully, it empties the brewing vessel completely, so the leaves stop steeping the moment you decant and stay ready for the next infusion.
A young classic of the tea table
Unlike the teapot or the gaiwan, the gongdaobei has no ancient pedigree — it is one of the youngest pieces on the tea tray. It entered the toolkit during the revival of Chinese tea culture that began in Taiwan in the 1970s, introduced alongside the tasting pair as a genuinely new item of teaware — the "bowl of justice". Within a few decades it became standard equipment: today it is hard to find a gongfu session without one.
Glass, porcelain or clay?
Glass dominates our collection, and for good reason: watching the liquor's colour deepen from pale gold to amber is half the pleasure of gongfu brewing, and glass shows it honestly. Sturdy borosilicate pieces take boiling water without complaint, and prices start at just €7. Porcelain pitchers (from €11.5, typically 180–220 ml) bring a calmer, classic look and pair naturally with a porcelain gaiwan; the liquor stays hotter a little longer than in thin glass. Clay pitchers, like clay teapots, round off the texture of the tea — a niche choice for drinkers who dedicate their teaware to one tea family.
What size should you choose?
Our pitchers run from 115 ml pocket-sized to 460 ml for a full table, with most between 150 and 300 ml. The rule of thumb: the pitcher should hold at least one full brew from your vessel with room to spare — roughly one and a half times the gaiwan's volume.
| Your gaiwan or teapot | Comfortable pitcher size |
|---|---|
| Up to 100 ml (solo sessions) | 115–150 ml |
| 100–150 ml (two or three cups) | 150–250 ml |
| 150–250 ml (a full table) | 250–460 ml |
Look also at the spout: a well-cut lip that pours in a clean stream and stops without dripping is what separates a pitcher you tolerate from one you love. Orders ship from our Amsterdam warehouse across the Netherlands and Europe — or watch one pour before you choose at the Moychay tea club — Rozengracht 92H, Amsterdam.
Facts and figures in this guide are based on “Geography of Chinese Tea” by Sergey Shevelev, founder of Moychay — written after visiting every tea-producing province of China.
