Pavina Double Wall Thermo-Glasses (review)

Name: Bodum Pavina Double-Wall Thermo Glasses

Type of Teaware: Insulated Glasses

Manufacturer: Bodum

Cost: $19.95 for a set of two

Review: Tea drinkers typically opt for either a mug or a cup. However, my own local tea room, Dream About Tea, offers its patrons heat-resistant glasses.

(In fact, Dream About Tea doesn’t bother with decanting tea: You get your leaves in your glass and you drink when they have sunk to the bottom. For an oolong lover such a myself, this is a marvelous arrangement, as I get to view the leaves as they open.)

The only problem is that some of their glasses don’t have handles, and so I have to wrap napkins around the glass until the water cools. Still, there is something uniquely satisfying about lifting, a large, heavy glass full of steaming tea and leaf to my face. It is a unique and heartening experience.

So you can imagine my delight when I encountered the Pavina Double Wall Thermo-Glasses:  Beautiful, hand blown insulated drinking vessels that keep my tea warm and my  hands from being blistered. I brought my set home and promptly made up some tea to test them out.

The Good: These are beautiful glasses that just look really, really cool. The double wall creates the visual illusion of the drink being suspended in the glass. The insulation works well: My tea stays hot and while the sides of the glass can get fairly warm,  it is not uncomfortable to hold. Great for infusing oolongs. . .I really love seeing those leaves unfurl.

The Bad: While they feel very light (i.e. not like glass) and are obviously able to hold hot liquids without shattering, they are not terribly sturdy. I, and others, have managed to crack the glasses just by carelessly adding ice cubes, or via a glass falling over while being washed in the sink.  It is important to treat these glasses like fine glassware, not like standard coffee/tea mugs.

Recommendation: If you have the ability to care for them properly, these can be a great option for tea drinkers who enjoy a “handle-free” drinking vessel, or for oolong lovers who like to keep an eye on their leaves.  However, they need to be handled gently, otherwise they break. Consider what kind of care you can give them before buying.

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Tagged as: bodum, pavina, tea cups, tea glasses, Teaware