Complete Guide to Brewing Loose Leaf Oolong Tea (UPDATED) You've assembled your tools and selected a tea. Last but not least, remember that the most important rule is if you like the taste, its probably a good technique. The leaves we brewed in the photos above are Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Tea. Pour all liquid from the brewing vessel into the server. Its not poisonous. The Traditional Way Using The Gong Fu Cha Method. In this guide, we will discuss the Chinese method of tea-making. Gong fu cha"right way tea", or "tea with effort"is a tea making method used to appreciate tea through several short steeps. So, the tea leaves are added in themiddleof the process. Warming The Tea Leaves 4. background-color:white; Warm the teapot with hot water then discard the water, Add your tea leaves (as a general rule of thumb, 1 gram of tea leaves for every 50 ml of water), Pour the hot water (around 80C) into the teapot until it is one-third full, Tilt the teapot and slowly rotate it two times to allow infusion, Pour more hot water until it is almost full, and let the tea rest for around 1-3 minutes, Pour the hot water (around 80C) into the teapot until it is almost full, Let the tea rest for around 1-3 minutes to allow infusion, Warm the teapot with hot water, and discard the water afterward, Fill one-third of the gaiwan with hot water (80C to 90C), If you use a gaiwan, you can add around 2 grams of white tea for 50 ml of water. 9. However, Gong fu cha is extremely easy to master. Leave them in a cool, shadowed place to dry. The Chinese Green tea( l ch) is very delicate, and a proper gongfu cha with green tea would demand extra care for some aspects. This is optional and you can replace it with any platter or a sheet. The tea tray is there to catch the spill for you. With the water at the temperature at which you will brew the tea (195 degrees for oolong, full boil for puer), pour it over the tea leaves and let it sit for 10-15 seconds. 2. Gong Fu Cha - Red Blossom Tea Company If the teacups cant hold all the tea, use the faircup. In the end, each batch of tea has its own character and its worth learning how to brew each batch of tea in order to make the best tea possible. It is recommended that you do two rinses for ripe style puer tea, rather than one. The art of brewing tea is over 1000 years old, although the exact origin of gong fu tea ceremony are still debatable. margin: 0; If brewing in a gaiwan, you may choose to stir the leaf a bit with the lid. Its not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. @media screen and (max-width: 980px) { Brush it away with the lid. This is a nice little trick to begin the olfactory part of the session, as the warmed pot will cause the tea leaf to release some of its aroma. Are you ready to brew gongfu tea? Check out our guide on how to properlycure a Gong Fu teapot to get you set up for proper brewing. Breathe. Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka, Africa and so many more! Chaozhou Gongfu Tea Brewing Method - KyaraZen Then refill the pot for the first brew. For lightly fermented oolong tea, you should infuse the tea for around 40 seconds. Tea is quality time. } Take time to thank the guests for attending the tea ceremony, sharing these warm tea moments together. Tea from round 2 is distributed. Prepare all tools and teaware in front of you. The procedure illustrated in the coming up pages are just basic steps. The rinsing is useful for several reasons. Your first infusion may be anywhere from 10-20 seconds. Step Two - Rinse The Tea Leaves. If water is poured above the leaves, it might break the tender tea leaves, destroying the value. Attention to tea-making quality has been a classic Chinese tradition. Prior to the tea ceremony, he is soaked in cold water. Gong Fu Style Brewing Shang Tea Make it a habit to pour used water over the teapot, and run hot water over the teapot after washing to keep the temperature of the teapot as high as possible. The Essential Guide to Chinese Tea Service: Gong Fu Cha Gong fu cha simply put, means to brew tea with skill. I would add that mindfulness is also a component in our favorite way to brew tea as one needs to focus on the task at hand, which in this case, is making and sipping ones tea.We especially like this method when we get new teas into our shop as we get to smell and taste the tea as it opens up, giving its flavors and various qualities unto the water over the many short infusion times. In this way, tea drinkers can verify and appreciate the quality of the tea. Although gongfu tea is called ceremony, it is quite different from theJapanese tea ceremonythat is more symbolic in nature. Notice the second pitcher in the brewing arrangement above. Add around 1 to 2 grams of white tea for 50 ml of water. Rinse teapot and teacups. Slow finally picks up his cup of tea. Description. Darker teas are best brewed with hotter water. 1) The amount of tea used will depend on the size of your brewing vessel. Here's asimple Gong Fu brewing guide on how to brew the best tea using quality Taiwanese loose-leaf teas. But it can help to wake up the leaves, especially if they are rolled or compressed. . The Ultimate Guide to Making Gong Fu Cha Chinese Tea After the third brew, up to two minutes for each successive brew is fine. So the tea is poured into the faircup to stop the tea from being overbrewed. Gong Fu Brewing - Quick Start Guide Tea and Talking How to Prepare Gongfu Tea Step by Step? - Meimei Fine Teas Cups are continually refilled with each new infusion. For deeply fermented oolong tea, infuse for ten seconds. In order to brew a concentrated cup, the pot or gaiwan usually holdsless than8 ounces. The brewer fills a small pot 80% full of leaves, with whole leaves surrounding crushed bits. Chaozhou is recognized by some as the capital of gongfu tea. Receive short and sweet updates about our discounted . Brewing using the Gong Fu Cha technique requires a small teapot of some kind, most often a Gaiwan (guy wan) or Yixing (ee shing) teapot. Explore over 150 different loose leaf teas from around the world in the Simple Loose Leaf tea shop. A basic gong fu cha setup includes: The size of the brewing vessel is often the most jarring detail for those unfamiliar with gong fu cha. You dont need all of them in the beginning. Check out our Free Culture Library. As mentioned before, leaf quality can be checked by tasting many infusions. And steeping a tea bag using "western . If you have sipped everything the leaves have to offer, but you dont wish to throw them in the trash, there are a variety of zero-waist ideas. Mr. You can buy Gong Fu tea sets, which includes everything you'd need to brew tea, including a small Gong Fu teapot, pitcher, and cups. It is probably based on the tea preparation approaches originated in Fujian[3] and the Chaoshan area of eastern Guangdong. Approximately 1 gram of tea leaves for every 10 ml of water is used. Pu-erh tea can be brewed in your favorite teacup if you are using our non-GMO pyramidal tea bags. At 9095C (194203F), the bubbles, which are now around 8 millimetres (0.31in) in diameter and accompanied by less frequent sizzling sounds and a lower sizzling pitch, are dubbed "fish eyes". Step One - Warm The Teapot, Sterilize The Teacups And Strainer. The weight most commonly used for a 100 ml gaiwan or yixing pot is 7 grams. an electric kettle. To be qualified a skillful brewer, the color of the tea in the 3 teacups has be the same (last drop of tea that comes out of the teapot is darker as it gets more brewing time). There are many benefits of gongfu style brewing. It might seem to be just for convenience but its BIG convenience. Some use more of an intuitive approach with the amount and fill the pot or gaiwan 1/8 to 1/2 full of the the dry leaf. How To Create The Perfect Tea Space: A Comprehensive Guide, Cha Xi: the evolution of beauty in tea space. About 50 seconds is allowed for the first brew, and 10-15 seconds are added for each successive brew. Replace the lid of your vessel to retain heat. A good size for a gaiwan for solo gong fu brewing is about 100-150ml, but smaller and bigger ones are available too. Why is it important? Strainer -Most Chinese teas use whole leaves. But if using a gaiwan, it is best to leave some space at the top. Gong fu means a skill or an effort, so gong fu cha or gongfu tea can simplybe translated into preparing tea with skill. Pour more hot water over the leaf and cover the pot or gaiwan. The goal is for each cup to contain an even brew. Just make sure no tea stays in the teapot after brewing time is up. The following illustrates small Yixing teapot Kung Fu Tea (below 6 oz preferred). There is no better way to enjoy tea than a gong fu tea ceremony. Pour boiling hot water (100C) into the gaiwan, slowly rotate two times then quickly discard the water (use a strainer). Black tea( Hng Cha)and Dark tea( Hei Cha)are the heavier, fermented version of Chinese tea, and theres also the Pr ch, which is a popular variety of the dark tea from Yunnan province. The literal translation of gong fu is right effort, while cha means tea. Its good at preventing any broken leaves from entering your cup. Gong fu chais sometimes called the Chinese tea ceremony. For the sake of having all the gadgets stay in the PIC, one thing is done wrong here. If there are very few stems, and the size of the rolled tea leaves is particularly small, start with less leaves about 8g/150ml. History Attention to tea-making quality has been a classic Chinese tradition. flex: 1; Specially shaped to fit Chinese teapots and pitchers with a very fine mesh. Instead, decant from the brewing vessel into the drinking cup. 10. Add water and steep the leaves veryshort, then discard the infusion. Tea holder, tea leaf holder for weighing and dispensing, or a wooden tea spoon to measure the amount of tea leaves required (Chinese: Optional: Tea basin or bowl used as the receptacle for used tea leaves and refuse water. Or until you are satisfied. Have I mentioned the water coming from this round is not for drinking? But this doesnt limit the amount of tea consumed. Although it is always up to the tea master himself to determine how many people will join. By the end of the 14th century, the more naturalistic "loose leaf" form had become a popular household product and by the Ming era, loose tea was put to imperial use. This allows you to pour off the remainder of each brew into the second pitcher in order to taste each brew on its own. Tongs- When brewing for guests, tongs are used to handle small cups more easily during the rinsing stage. This page was last edited on 25 May 2023, at 11:58. padding: 15px; Good Gongfu guide for beginners? : r/tea - Reddit Tea Tools (optional) in the tool set, there are tea shuffle, funnel, tongs, digger, tea needle. What are the benefits of Gong Fu Cha? If using a tea with smaller broken bits, a fine mesh strainer can help keep them out of the server and drinking cups. He has collected, organized, and determined the. .columns .column { Some tea drinkers prefer to leave brewed tea leaves inside the teapot to nurture the teapot. Best start with a cheap gaiwan ($5-10) and tasting cups ($1-2 each). 2. Small (personal preference is below 6 oz) and deep teapot is preferable for best result. Never use boiling water for any, Pour the tea into a pitcher and divide between cups. It originated in the southeastern coastal region of China that includes Fujian and Guangdong provinces, and is now popular across large swaths of Asia, with a smaller but devout following here in the United States. Gongfu Cha Method For Tea - Steps 1. But we find an electric kettle to be a convenient modern version. This is a very usual step with puerh and oolong tea. margin: 20px; Gong fu cha requires that the water be kept hot to brew many infusions. The top-drop technique adds the tea leaves after the hot water has been poured. 1. Water should be given careful consideration when conducting Gongfu Cha. } Gong fu translates as right effort. Yet high content mineral water also needs to be avoided. putting the Yixing teapot in a hot water bath to slow down heat loss, etc., etc.) &:nth-last-child(2) { When brewing Gong Fu style with teapots or gaiwans up to 200ml, we recommend a basic proportion of 1:15, leaves to water for unroasted Oolong Tea types. Online Courses about Chinese Tea from Udemy(Aff.link). The Way of Gong Fu Cha. 54601310, Gong Fu Brewing Guide for the Best Taiwanese Oolong Tea. 8) Here you have the option of taking your spent leaf and boiling it in water for 3 or 4 minutes to extract the last bit of flavor from your leaf. It is the most suitable for brewing the highest-grade green tea leaves that are very tender and delicate. Although not crucial, many tea masters store the tea of choice in a designated tea jar. Brewing tea the gong fu way is a wonderful gift to give yourself and your friends. To brew gong fu cha for one person, the server can be removed from the process. Theoretically, you can use any real tea for gong fu brewing. Procedures are dead. }. The Benefits of Gong Fu Cha. Leaves that are not tightly rolled should be measured differently. To avoid breaking or contaminating tea leaves, we like to use a scoop to measure them out. Use the tea digger from the tea tool set to dig out the tea leaves. You have the best quality audio and visual experience while sitting in comfortable leather chairs. Tea masters have studied all the tea-making components for centuries. In a pinch you can use a waste-water bowl to rinse the cups into rather than rinsing over a gongfu cha tray, and any tray with a raised edge to catch drips and spills. Meaning roughly "tea with effort",gong fu cha is the best way to verifyand appreciate the quality of anytea, whether alone or with friends. 2023 Eco-Cha Teas. A Look At Gongfu Cha: Why It's The Best Way to Enjoy Tea This is true of all Taiwanese loose-leaf Oolong Teas. Clean the teaware and utensils. Since gong fu brewing is a lot about flavor, the best flavor will always come from the highest quality unbroken tea leaves. The very first step in a proper Chinese tea-making is to prepare your Chinese tea set. It also protects the table underneath from water damage. Use high water to leaf ratio. If you have tongs, this is the time to use them so you dont burn your hands with hot water. If not using saucers, use one hand on the bottom of the cup and your thumb and forefinger of the other hand on the sides of the cup . Water is added to the same tea leaves many times. Never use teas or herbs to treat serious medical conditions on your own. Enjoy this. Gongfucha originates in China and Taiwan, but a casual rendition (simply referred to as "gongfu") is more popular with . You will find foam floating on top. . Tea rinse round starts -add hot water and fill teapot until it overflows a little. Our favorite way to check the quality of any tea is to observe the way the flavor changes with each infusion. After a minute or so , first few cups of tea are ready. Tea masters in China and other Asian tea cultures study for years to perfect this method. Teacups (must) that is, if you dont want to drink direct from the teapot. } Procedures are dead. In this guide, we will discuss all you need to know about the Chinese method of tea-making for different types of Chinese teas. For gong fu brewing at home, you dont need many utensils. However, Gong fu cha is extremely easy to master. flex-basis: 100%; Repeat the previous steps, each time increasing the steeping time by a little. Warm up the teapot by filling it with boiling water and. The same tea leaves are then steeped over 10 times, depending on the tea. Fine strainer (optional, but recommended), Fresh, clean water (please do not use unfiltered tap, softened, distilled or reverse osmosis prepared water), Tea tray in order to catch excess water used in rinsing, preparation and serving of tea. margin: 5px 0; All Rights Reserved. The small-sized teapot enables a succession of very brief infusions. Kung Fu Cha uses Yixing teapots that retain a high temperature during brewing. China has a long-term tea-making tradition called the gongfu tea ceremony () or also called kungfu tea ceremony (), which can be literally translated into making tea with great skill. Gong Fu Cha: Tea Ritual or Brewing Technique? Step 1: Measure However, its usually reserved for Chinese and Taiwanese loose leaf teas and teas from some other East Asian countries. Yixing teapot (must) Yixing teapot is slow in losing heat. Gaiwan literally translated means lidded cup or lidded bowl and is typically a ceramic or porcelain cup with a saucer and a lid. Yixing teapots do absorb more flavor and take on a fuller color after absorbing the essence of tea. First, you will experience dozens of new flavors even in the teas you thought you already know very well. A kettle or thermos filled with hot water. 3. LEARN: ht. Thus, gong fu cha is only the process of putting in the effort to get the best flavor from the tea. } Avoid pouring directly onto the tea leaves, and pour slowly. For . Also named Pinming Cup (. These accessories are not required, but they can help to brew with precision. Determine the amount of tea leaves, water temperature, and brewing time your tea needs. We look for the right combination of amount of tea leave, water temperature, brewing time, etc. In the past, brewers managed this with a cast iron kettle and a brazier. In Chinese,Chameans tea. This is the most common technique in brewing Chinese green tea and can be used for most types of green tea leaves. Are you ready to brew gongfu tea? Follow our step by step instructions to learn the basics of the Gong Fu Cha - the Chinese way of brewing tea through multiple infusions. Fill till it spills a little. Most cups will be enough for 1-3 slurps, Re-steep the leaves. Tea buddies, dont thank me for all the work Ive put into making these few ounces of tea. justify-content: center; It is a show of respect to your guests. This step will not extract much flavor and the rinse water can be discarded. Gong Fu Cha, A Detailed Guide The Chinese Way To Taste Tea A Detailed Guide To Gong Fu Cha Preparing The Tea Space. There are other utensils that you could use, such as aroma cup and tongs. Rinse & First Infusion 5. Gong Fu Cha: Brewing Tea with Skill | Cook's Illustrated Water which tastes or smells bad will adversely affect the brewed tea. Teapot or Gaiwan The size of the brewing vessel is often the most jarring detail for those unfamiliar with gong fu cha. This is useful if you are drinking your tea at home and you might still have some brews left on the leaves. However, method alone will not determine whether a great cup of tea will be produced. While most Chinese and people with Chinese descent are aware of gongfu tea (or gongfu cha) as an important part of their culture, very few Chinese actually know how its done. Place the dry tea leaves into the warmed teapot or gaiwan. Avoid pouring directly onto the tea leaves, and pour slowly, Infuse the white tea for around 5 to 6 minutes, Warm the gaiwan with hot water and discard afterward, The typical ratio when using a gaiwan is 1 gram of oolong tea for every 20 to 30ml of water, add the tea leaves into the gaiwan before adding water, Pour boiling hot water (100C) into the gaiwan, slowly rotate two times then quickly discard the water (use a strainer). You do this by adding substantially more leaves to your gaiwan than you would with other brewing styles and steeping the tea leaves for much shorter period of time starting around 5-10 seconds for the first steeping. For portability, the tool kit can even include only a brewing vessel and cup. You should drink your cup of tea immediately without letting it to cool down. This method also maximizes the quantity of brewed tea from each serving of leaves. An optional step is to rinse the tea leaves at this stage. If you have already did, never mind. You can use a regular teaspoon, but it may spoil a whole experience. Privacy Policy. While the slow drinkers are enjoying their tea, round 2 brewing starts. The correct amount of steeping time varies based on the type of tea used. Sales@SimpleLooseLeaf.com, FREE SHIPPING on all tea orders over $60 and any gift boxes and subscriptions, Buying tea in bulk is a huge waste of money. The drinker should i) finish the tea in one go. A large amount of, When visiting a traditional Chinese tea house or buying Chinese teas, we will usually be offered teas prepared in this manner. How to Brew Organic Pu-erh Tea: Gong Fu Cha in Gaiwan Brewing the tea in small amounts for short intervals allows the leaves to be brewed in succession, capturing the subtle essences of flavor and aroma as they are released from the tea leaves. 00:00 - Introducing This Video About Gongfu Tea00:18 - The Teaware Essential to Gongfu Tea01:10 - Step One of Gongfu Cha: Put Tea Leaves Into the Gaiwan01:24 - Step Two of Gong Fu Tea: Line up the cups01:34 - Step Three of Gong Fu Tea: Rinse the Tea Leaves01:54 - How to Avoid Finger Burns When Preparing Gong Fu Tea02:21 - Gong Fu Tea for Consumption: Pour Tea out of Gaiwan through Screen into Pouring Cup02:46 - The Role and Responsibilities of the Host During Gong Fu Tea03:13 - Re-infusing Tea Leaves During Gongfu Cha03:28 - Closing Remarks for the Gongfu Tea Tutorial Cups usually range from 30ml to about 70ml, but there are smaller and bigger ones too. We are! Once you have the right. Tea has to be poured low to minimize escaping of aroma. Gong Fu Cha provides some very unique tasting experiences in comparison to standard tea brewing methods. The Chinese Method of Tea-Making: Your Guide to Gongfu Cha, Ancient Chinese Science of Tea Blending and Wellness, Ancient Chinese Science & Art of Brewing Tea, Certified Tea Courses-Chinese Tea Ceremony & History, 6 Different Chinese Tea Types and Their Benefits, Basic Chinese Food Ingredients You Should Know To Start Chinese Cooking. Leaveyour impressions or questions in the comment section below! Modern interpretations of gong fu cha simplify the setup. Directly to your inbox. Brewing with higher concentrations of leaf can produce more infusions. Essentially, two things have to be taken into consideration: chemistry and temperature. Using tongs to handle the serving cups adds a nice flair and also keeps everything sanitary. It looks similar to a big tea cup with a lid. The most important brewing vessel is gaiwan or a lidded tea bowl. If you are using long twisted leaves, add even more.
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