Gong fu tea brewing is a traditional Chinese way of brewing tea. It uses larger than usual tea leaves during brewing which makes a more tasty tea than the western counterparts. Gong fu tea is normally made with a tea set and it means in English “making tea with skill”.
1: How to choose the quality of the tea?
When you go to buy Chinese tea, you will normally find a wide variety of teas available. You will find some of the fanciest packaging with Chinese tea but that doesn’t indicate quality necessarily. If you are new to buying tea the best way at the beginning is to go by price, meaning the higher the price the better the quality. Once you will be familiar with what leaves of high-quality tea look like you will be able to visually choose high-quality tea. You will need to experiment by buying different teas to find out the quality and what you prefer.
2: How much of the tea do I use?
It all depends on the teapot that you use and what type of tea you will be brewing. There are teapots for 1-2 people up to 4-6 people and the amount of tea to put in the teapot will be according to your taste. There are guides but through experimentation and the tea package directions, you will find your perfect blend.
3: What temperature should the water be at?
The temperature of the water is considered very important in Gong fu tea brewing. Too hot or not hot enough will affect the way the flavor is released from the tea leaves and leave an inconsistent taste to the brew. Once again there are charts and package instructions on how hot approximately to make the water so don’t be too concerned at first because these are approximations.
4: How long do I brew the tea?
Now, this is where you will find the most skill that is required to make the best tea. With rolled tea, it starts at 10-15 seconds with the first brew and with tea leaves 1cm or 1-2cm 9-12 seconds. There are guides for different teas and the packaging may not reflect the Gong fu tea brewing guidelines but with experimentation, you will adjust brewing times to suit your taste.
5: How to find the right teapot?
Teapots can be found like tea in a variety of qualities and prices. It is universally accepted that clay teapots provide the best vessel for your tea although porcelain teapots will do if you do not want to spend a lot of money. Thin clay teapots are good for white, oolong, and green tea as thicker clay teapots are better for black tea.
You will find with practice and through trial and error, a Gong Fu tea brewing experience that you and your friends and family will enjoy. With the proper tea service and tea selection as well as brewing technique you will find drinking tea to be more enjoyable than ever before.