Gong Fu means skill that comes with practice. It is applicable to any discipline (from martial arts to calligraphy) and it encourages effort and time to master the art of brewing tea. To honour this, our brewing guide is merely a framework… the more you practice brewing tea, the more you will learn how specific teas brew best and what brewing method best suits your preferences.
WESTERN BREWING
If you aren’t quite ready to dive into Gong Fu Brewing, this is the method for you. This method uses less leaf and more water.
You will need a brewing vessel (teapot/mug) and a strainer. We recommend 2-3g of tea(around 1 teaspoon, levelled or heaped it’s up to you!) to 250-300ml of boiling water. Infuse for 1-4 minutes. Look at the colour of the tea liquor to see how quickly the tea brews- generally more oxidised teas require less time.
All our teas are of a quality that can withstand boiling water. The only time we recommend lower water temperatures is for green tea (70-80 degrees, depending on the tea). Some people like their lightly oxidised oolongs brewed at lower temperature (80-90 degrees) but they can absolutely withstand higher temperatures. Why not try both and see which you prefer?
These clear teapots with built-in strainers are perfect for this kind of brewing.
GONG FU BREWING
This is the brewing method with the most range where you can have the most fun discovering your tea! This method uses more leaf and less water (this is why the infusions are shorter and you get more steeps out of the tea).
For Gong Fu Brewing, you will use anything from 4-8g of tea and approximately 100ml boiling water. This will depend on the size of your brewing vessel (gaiwan or pot), the number of guests, and your personal preference for the strength of tea. Use a scale to weight your tea until you have practiced enough to eyeball it.
Brew for anytime between 5 seconds to 35 seconds (depending on the tea and your preferences). White Tea, as the least processed tea, usually needs more brewing time. Puerh Teas can be so potent, they only require a couple of seconds. You first steeps will be shorter and you will gradually lengthen them by 4-8 seconds each time.
If you feel a tea was brewed for too long, adjust the brewing time for the next steep. If you still aren’t satisified, adjust the amount of leaf you use the next time you brew the tea.
If you prematurely end your Gong Fu brewing session, you can used the semi-brewed leaves to make a cold brew (next instructions).
This travel set is the perfect kit for beginner Gong Fu brewing.
COLD BREW
This is a very simple brewing method, excellent for when you would like to drink your tea cold.
Again, you can adjust the ratio as per your preference. A good starting point is 4 teaspoons (8-10g) per litre of water.
Add the measured tea into a bottle that can close. Add room temperature water. Leave for 8+ hours/overnight (depends on the tea and your preference). Strain and enjoy. Cold Brew releases more subtle notes into the tea. It is a great way to experience a tea that you like with more subtle flavours.
Happy Brewing!