What's One Teaware Purchase You Regret—and What Would You Buy Instead?
The teaware purchases people regret most are...
Continue Reading
Why Does the Same Tea Taste Different in Different Gaiwans?
The same tea can taste different in different gaiwans b...
Continue Reading
The best way to brew oolong tea Gongfu style is to use a small gaiwan or teapot, a relatively high tea-to-water ratio, hot water, and short repeated infusions, adjusting time and temperature according to the specific oolong.
Gongfu tea is usually bitter because the leaves are being extracted too aggressively—most commonly from a combination of too much tea, too long an infusion, excessively hot water for that particular tea, or unsuitable water.
The best temperature for Gongfu tea depends on the tea: many robust Chinese oolongs, black teas, and Pu-erh teas perform well with water near boiling, while delicate green teas usually benefit from cooler water.
Tea can seem overwhelming at first. With thousands of varieties, different brewing methods, and unfamiliar terms like “oolong,” “pu-erh,” and “first flush,” many beginners wonder: What is the best type of tea to start with?
