Brewing tea might sound complicated and will sure keep you entertained for a lifetime to master its nuances but in theory it really is very simple: just add water. To brew tea the way they do it in China first of all get the right tools then after rinsing well your equipment with boiling water follow these 4 steps:
- Put leaves in the gaiwan. This will depend on tea type and on personal preference but let’s say about 1g per 15-20ml as a general idea.
- Fill the gaiwan with water, cover with lid and wait a short time (again, this will vary on personal preference but start from 10-20 seconds as a general idea)
- Shift the lid of the gaiwan slightly in order to make a small opening on one side and grab the gaiwan from the opposite side. You will have to be careful not to burn your hand and always hold the gaiwan from the rim and other thin edges.
- Pour the tea soup out in one motion straight into the Gong Dao Bei (or in the cup directly). The lid will keep the leaves inside. You can then drink the tea and repeat the process.
The leaves can be infused again and again in the same way increasing brewing times for each subsequent steep/infusion until you like to drink it. then rinse, change leaves and repeat!
Adjustments:
Of course you won’t get a tea tasting the best the first time that’s why you keep making adjustments until you feel comfortable. what you can adjust are three factors: leaf quantity, water temperature and steeping time.
Is the tea too bitter?
Maybe you can try brewing for less time or using cooler water which some peculiar teas might need (although generally good quality leaves will do well with boiling water).
By pouring from a bit higher the water will be slightly cooler. Brewing with open lid will also reduce temperature.
Does it lack flavor?
Maybe you can make the next brew/steep longer or add more leaves.
Is the tea too strong?
Brew for shorter time or use less leaf.
And so on. Fine tuning your brewing skills is the fun part of tea drinking. You can notice how the flavors change on each infusion or depending on how you brew. Some teas might reveal different flavors at lighter water temperatures, some might develop over time or at stronger infusion. It’s up to you to go and explore the tea you have. The most important thing is to not stress too much, don’t worry about fine details but rather focus on the experience and feeling you get from the tea and enjoy. It will all come naturally the more you drink.
What if I can’t use a gaiwan? Should i get an infuser?
Using a gaiwan will feel awkward at first but I guarantee you with a bit of practice it will feel extremely natural and allow you to perfectly control brewing times thanks to its fast pouring at a cheap cost getting the best tea results. It will be easy to clean as well. If you must use an infuser however, use a basket shaped one large enough to let the leaves float and expand freely ad avoid little ball shaped and novelty ones.
The most important thing to remember however is that there are no right and wrongs in brewing tea, you should experiment and find your own way according to your taste.
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