Gong Dao Bei

Gongdaobei (公道杯) is the phonetic transcription of the Chinese term for “fair cup.” If translated literally, it can be called a “fair cup” or “fairness cup.”

Initially, the gong dao bei was a vessel for drinking alcohol, designed using the siphon principle in physics. In ancient times, people used fair cups to deal with greedy drinkers; if the alcohol exceeded a certain level, it would all leak out.

Today, the gong dao bei refers explicitly to a tea pitcher.

The Purpose of Gong Dao Bei

1. Balancing and Distributing Tea: It helps to distribute the tea evenly, balancing the concentration and quantity of tea for everyone. It also helps to settle tea leaves and sediment.
2. Uniform Tea Tasting: The gong dao bei ensures that everyone tastes the tea from the same brew, avoiding discrepancies in tea strength. This promotes the idea that everyone is equal before tea, with no one being favored over another.

Tea Pitcher with Lid

Generally, tea pitchers do not have lids because the tea is consumed quickly.

Gong Dao Bei vs. Cha Hai

Cha hai (茶海) has various meanings in China. It can refer to a tea table used for entertaining guests in Zhejiang and Fujian, a type of tea tray, or even another term for the gong dao bei. Therefore, the two terms are not directly interchangeable.

Chinese Tea Pitcher vs. Iced Tea Pitcher

Chinese people traditionally drink tea and water hot, unlike Westerners, who often add ice to their beverages. Chinese tea pitchers usually have minor issues maintaining the warmth of the tea. This allows for brewing and drinking in smaller quantities, ensuring the tea remains hot and fresh. In contrast, an iced tea pitcher is typically more giant and designed for cold beverages.

Using a Glass Iced Tea Pitcher as a Tea Pitcher

If you have a minor glass tea pitcher at home, you can certainly use it as a tea pitcher. However, a large iced tea pitcher may cause the tea to cool too quickly. If you prefer a glass gong dao bei, check out our selection of glass tea pitchers.