Gaiwan (or Gai Wan) means "lidded bowl" in Chinese. It is a very simple Chinese tea steeping vessel, usually made of ceramic. It is commonly used in Gong-Fu (Kung-Fu) tea preparation, or it can be used as a cup for drinking. See our Tea Steeping Guide page for a short instructional video demonstrating how to use a Gaiwan in Gong-Fu style tea preparation.