It's unusual to have the teapot handle be hot, and I second the above
suggestion to avoid pouring hot water over the handle. As for cups
and such, it's a good idea to rinse the cups in-between steeps. Good
gongfu brewers are maniacal where cleanliness is concerned. Also,
heating the cups between steeps keeps the tea hot longer and, for the
aroma cup, evaporates the tea faster making the fragrance more
pronounced.

The simplest answer to your question is that as time passes you'll
become inured to the heat. I've never seen an experienced gongfu
brewer resort to towels or threads.

Cheers,

Cameron

(Melinda) wrote in message . com>...
> OK, I have just had it...I have never heard anyone ask this question
> before but it comes up for me every time I try to do gung fu with my
> yixing pot. The thing gets so hot (from pouring the hot water over it,
> in it, steeping, etc.) as well as the cups getting hot...I have a very
> difficult time doing this without some hurt fingers. Even the handle
> of my yixing gets hot. So, for those of you who do this on a regular
> basis, do I just live with it or is there some secret? This is for
> oolong btw so the water needs to be hot, I know. Thank-you in advance.
>
>
> Melinda, gung fu-ing the last of my Bai Hao.