Scholars and tea connoisseurs alike appreciate this cup – the Three Talents Cup.

Gaiwan tea refers to tea brewed directly in a gaiwan (lidded bowl) and then enjoyed; it is a traditional way of drinking tea. A gaiwan consists of three parts: a lid, a bowl, and a saucer, and is also known as a "three-part cup."The lid represents the sky, the support represents the earth, and the bowl represents humanity, implying harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity.

In his essay "Drinking Tea," Liang Shiqiu wrote, "The gaiwan is indeed the best tea utensil." Similarly, Lu Xun mentioned in his essay of the same name, "To drink good tea, one must use a gaiwan, so I used one. Indeed, after brewing, the tea was clear in color and sweet in taste, slightly fragrant and a little bitter—truly good tea." Thus, it seems that using a gaiwan for brewing tea was a favorite among literati and tea drinkers, imbued with profound meaning and truly a desirable object.

Actually, using a gaiwan (lidded bowl) makes it easier to control the brewing concentration, observe the color of the tea liquor, smell the aroma, and watch the tea leaves unfurl. A gaiwan is also easier to clean than a teapot. Professional tea tasters also use a gaiwan as the standard for evaluating and comparing teas.

The strength of the tea can be adjusted by changing the steeping time, or by using the lid to scrape the surface of the water in the bowl to make the tea leaves swirl around. Scraping lightly will result in a weaker brew, while scraping more forcefully will make it stronger.