Master the Brewing of Oolongs.
The traditional tea brewing method or gongfucha（功夫茶）, literally making tea with mastery, is indeed a skill acquired over many years of practice. Like any skill, brewing tea in this traditional way can be improved over time after repeated trial-and-error and failures without giving up.
When we stay focused and attentive to the tea we brew, we pay respect to this sacred gift of Mother Nature, the team of craftsmen that make the tea, and ourselves. In the modern world, we are often living in a fast-paced lifestyle surrounded by many distractions that erode our attention. By brewing tea slowly in gongfucha style, we are giving ourselves a moment of self-care in silence, serenity and mindfulness. In this very moment, we are building a connection with the tea leaves, Nature and ourselves through a “Journey of the Senses.”
No matter which tea ceremony or chadao teachers you learned from or which resources you turned to for brewing guidelines, the bottom line is your preference is the key. It is important that we take brewing guidelines as general suggestions, not rules to live by. The spirit of tea brewing lies in plunging yourself into the unknown and exploring it with curiosity. Therefore, we are here to share with you on how we prefer to brew our oolong teas from our cumulative experience over the years, not as the ultimate guide for brewing. Please feel free to make any moderations to your liking, according to how strong you want your tea to be.
Traditional Brewing Method (mindful gongfucha style):
We prefer to use a porcelain teapot or gaiwan (tea bowl with a lid) with a white interior. Porcelain is perfect for wenxiang （聞香）or smelling the aroma of fragrant oolong teas. The white interior is easier for you to observe the colour of your tea leaves and liquor. Feel free to use other vessels such as zisha / purple sand teapot（紫砂壺） or ceramic teapot as well. Use filtered or spring water as clean water is essential for maximizing the flavour.
High Mountain Oolongs (Dayuling, Lishan, Shanlinxi)
Jinxuan
Dongding
Tieguanyin:
1. Heat up all teaware with hot boiling water.
*It is important to heat up all teaware before use as cooling will affect the flavour and aroma.
2. Scoop in 3-6g (3-4 scoops using our tea scoop) of dry tea leaves into the tea vessel (1/5-1/4 of vessel).
*Cover up the lid and shake it up; open the lid and smell its aroma.
What do you smell?
3. Fill 1/2 of vessel with hot boiling water. Pour it out immediately and do not drink.
*The first rinse is to “wake-up” （醒茶）the rolled tea leaves to prepare them for unfurling.
4. Fill vessel with hot water at 95-100 °C. Let it simmer in your vessel for 50 seconds.
*Feel free to leave the lid open; observe your tea leaves.
What do you see?
5. Pour the tea into your faircup through a strainer.
*Listen as you pour.
What do you hear?
6. Now, pour the tea into your teacups from the faircup and serve.
*Savour the tea in your mouth.
What flavour do you taste?
What mouthfeel do you get?
7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 for subsequent steeps.
2nd brew: 35 sec / 3rd brew: 45 sec / 4th brew: 60 sec / 5th brew: 120 sec
*You can brew up to 5-8 steeps.
Eastern Beauty Oolong:
6-8g (1/2 of vessel) / 80-85 °C / 50sec / 40 sec / 60 sec / 90 sec / 110 sec
For Baozhong Oolong:
6-8g (1/2 of vessel) / 90-95 °C / 50 sec / 35 sec / 45 sec / 60 sec / 120 sec
*Please note that Taiwanese oolong teas in rolled-up shape need space to unfurl in the tea vessel in order to bring out their flavour. Make sure you only fill half or less of your vessel!
Western Brewing Method (quick modern style):
In a ceramic / porcelain / glass teapot, mug or tea infuser with an inside strainer,
Scoop in 3-6g (3-4 scoops) of dry tea leaves and fill with 250ml water at 85-90 °C.
Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Take out strainer and serve.
*Do not leave tea leaves immersed in hot water as this will release tannins that make the tea more bitter and astringent.
Cold Brewing Method (冷泡茶）:
Use room temperature water and rinse 5-8g (4-6 scoops) of dry tea leaves.
Drain, then place rinsed tea leaves in a 450ml clean glass tumbler, flask or mason jar.
Pour in cool, filtered water and fill up to the top.
Place in the fridge overnight for 8 hours and allow the tea leaves to fully unfurl.
Serve and enjoy.
*Because oolong teas are naturally sweet, there’s no need to add sugar. Enjoy the magic of pure oolong teas!
Happy Brewing!
