Rinsing is common in some gongfu traditions, but it should not be treated as a mandatory rule for every tea.
For some teas, a brief rinse can prepare tightly compressed or rolled leaves and remove loose surface material. For others, especially delicate teas, throwing away the first infusion can mean discarding some of the most aromatic compounds.
If your oolong does not have enough aroma, the most common causes are incorrect water temperature, insufficient leaf, poor water, improper brewing, stale tea, or a mismatch between the tea's style and your expectations.
Oolong is particularly interesting because aroma is one of its defining strengths, yet aroma can disappear quickly when brewing or storage conditions are unfavorable.
For most beginners, a lightly roasted Tieguanyin or a balanced Wuyi Rock Tea is an excellent introduction to Chinese oolong, while Dan Cong is better suited to beginners who specifically enjoy intense floral and fruity aromas.
Gongfu tea brewing is a method of preparing tea through small vessels, relatively high leaf-to-water ratios, short infusions, and repeated steeping, while a Gongfu tea ceremony is a broader tea-serving practice that incorporates brewing technique together with presentation, hospitality, etiquette, and cultural context.
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.
A good starting point for Gongfu brewing is about 5–8 grams of tea for a 100–120 ml gaiwan, but the ideal amount depends on the tea, vessel size, leaf shape, and how strong you want each infusion to be.
