🍵 Tea Brewing Tips – The Chinese Way

Brewing tea is both an art and a ritual. In Chinese tea culture, the way you brew your tea is just as important as the leaves themselves. The right water, vessel, and steeping time bring out the full fragrance, flavour, and health benefits of each variety.

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Here are some simple tips to help you brew your tea the authentic Chinese way:

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🌿 White Tea

• Use a porcelain “covered cup” (gaiwan) or a purple clay teapot.

• Water temperature: 85–90°C

• Tip: If using a purple clay teapot, dedicate it only to white tea to preserve purity of flavour.

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🍃 Green Tea

• Best brewed in a ceramic cup or teapot, which helps cool the water faster.

• Water temperature: around 80°C

• Tip: Never use boiling water, it will make the tea taste bitter and harsh.

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🌸 Oolong Tea

• Traditionally brewed in a purple clay teapot.

• Water temperature: around 90°C

• Tip: Keep one teapot just for Oolong, as clay absorbs and holds the tea’s fragrance.

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🍂 Chinese Red Tea (English Black Tea)

• Use a porcelain “covered cup” or porcelain teapot for best results.

• Water temperature: 100°C (boiling)

• Tip: Can be enjoyed plain, or served with sugar, lemon, or milk.

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🌑 Chinese Black Tea (Pu’er / Aged Tea)

• Brew in a porcelain cup/teapot or purple clay teapot (one dedicated to Pu’er only).

• Water temperature: 95–100°C

• Tip: Rinse the leaves once before the first brew to awaken their aged aroma.

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✨ General Brewing Guidance

• Tea leaves: fill about one-third of your gaiwan or teapot.

• Brew time: For the first three brews, steep for ~45 seconds, draining the tea fully each time. Gradually increase steeping time for later infusions.

• Reinfuse: High-grade tea leaves can be brewed 5–7 times, revealing new layers of flavour with each pour.

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Drinking tea this way slows you down, encourages mindfulness, and allows you to savour the unique character of each leaf. With every cup, you’re not just making tea, you’re part of a tradition that has been appreciated for centuries.