Handan glass, chosen for 3‑person rituals
Sandry Law first spotted this oversized gaiwan during a routine supply‑chain audit in Handan, Hebei, where a single family workshop still blows borosilicate by mouth. The 150 ml volume was an intentional deviation from the classic 100 ml size — Sandry wanted a vessel that could host a small group without forcing the tea master to lift a heavier, clumsier lid. After six rounds of prototypes, the wall thickness settled at 1.8 mm, enough to keep the glass crystalline but not insulating, so heat remained true to the leaf. Every bowl carries a faint speckle pattern from the wooden mould; the lid’s knob is slightly sunken for a confident pinch. Sandry’s team tested each batch with Mí Lán Xiāng (蜜兰香) and Lián Huā‑scented oolongs, timing the pour until the gaiwan performed like an extension of the wrist. The result is a piece that Western brewers approach without fear, and that visual‑steep lovers find impeccably photogenic.