GAIWAN

Zhong is a handle-less steeping cup made of very fine porcelain with a lid and a saucer. This receptacle is commnly used id China at home and in tea houses. Zhong is probably a corruption of the verb "chong" meaning "to pour water" and was one of the many tea-drinking innovations that appeared in the Ming dynasty. Contrairly to YiXing earthenware, porcelain is a poor retainer of heat, leaving the zhong more appropriate for fragile teas such as white tea.