Water Temperature
Water temperature is essential for preparing the perfect cup of tea. When prepare delicate green or white teas, allow the boiling water to cool a bit to 80-85 degree celsius. Pu-erh, Oolong and black teas require hotter water and use 90-95 degree Celsius water for Pu-erh, Black tea, and Oolong tea. Particularly using Gong fu brewing method, a high water temperature in combination a heat keeping Yixing teapot are required.
Tall Glass Brewing
Tall glass brewing method is intended for unfermented tea such as green tea, white tea, yellow tea and mao cha.
The method is simple. Basically, all you need to do is use a tall glass, put the tea leaves in to it then fill the glass with the appropriate temperature water. Through the transparent glass you can appreciate the beautiful leaves as they unfurl and release their delicate flavors. Once the leaves have sunk to the bottom, you can actually drink straight from the glass. As fine green and white teas should never become too bitter, you can keep the leaves in the glass without taking it out.
Video note:
1. Warm up the tall glass
2.Add the the leaves
3. Fill 2-3 cm of the glass with temperature water ( 85-90 Celsius degree).
4. Spinn the glass. The subtleties and nuances of each variety of tea are released by the circulation of water over the leaves.
5. Fill the glass with more temperature water. Move the tea pot upp and down to circulate the water.
6. Wait until most of the leaves have sunk to the bottom and then you can drink straight from the glass.
7 Second infusion. Don't finished whole glass before refill, leave 1/3 tea from previous infusion.
8. Repeat step 5 again...
Gaiwan Method
1. Warm the gaiwan with hot water. If you choose to use a separate cup instead of drinking from the gaiwan, you should also warm the cup with hot water. Pour the water out once the container is warm.
2. Measure the tea leaves according to which tea you are brewing. Typically, this measurement is one to two tablespoons. Place the tea leaves in the gaiwan.
3. Wash the tea leaves with a quick rinse of hot water. Pour this water out and keep the tea leaves in by using the lid to contain the leaves while allowing the water to flow out of the gaiwan.
4. Fill the gaiwan with hot water again, cover with the lid and let the tea steep for the time consistent with the type of tea you're brewing. Green tea has a 2-to-3-minute brew time, while darker teas typically brew for a few minutes longer. As you grow more comfortable with brewing tea you can adjust the brew time to better suit your individual taste.
5. Hold the cup and saucer in your right hand while your left steadies the lid. Drink from the gaiwan while the lid holds the tea leaves back. You may also use this method to decant the brewed tea into a separate container.
6. Drink the tea and enjoy. You have just brewed tea as it was done during the Ming Dynasty.
7. Resteep the tea leaves if you wish. Resteeped tea leaves requires a slightly longer brew time, but you should be able to steep quality loose leaf tea several times.
