Dear tea lovers, today we are going to talk about how to brew different kinds of tea. The whole guide includes leaf-to-water ratio, water temperature, length of brewing, and number of infusions. This guide will be especially useful for people who are new to Chinese tea brewing.
Today we will talk about four teas - Green tea, Oolong tea, Puerh tea and Black tea.
Green Tea
For 1g green tea, you will need 50ml water. Normally we will use 5g- 6g green tea, then you will probably need about 250-300ml water. The temperature is 80-90 degrees. Brewing time for green tea is 30 seconds for first steeping, and plus 30s for each infusion，3 infusions in total. If you do not have a Gongfu style Gaiwan, a glass is still a good choice here. When you are brewing your green tea, if you feel it is bitter or grassy, you can use lower temperature or steep for shorter time.
Oolong Tea
1g oolong tea you will need 20ml water, for regular size Gaiwan, you need 8g oolong tea. The temperature of water is 90-100 degrees. High temperature is the best way to stimulate the aroma of Oolong tea.
Brewing time for Oolong tea is 5 seconds for first steeping, and plus 5s for each infusion，8 infusions in total.
Puerh Tea
1g Puer tea you will need 20ml water. The temperature is 95-100 degrees. Brewing time for green tea is 5 seconds for first steeping, and plus 5s for each infusion, 10 infusions in total.
With ripe pu erhs, it’s important to give the tea leaves a quick rinse with hot water before doing your first steep.
Black Tea
1g black tea you will need 50ml water. The temperature is 85-100 degrees. Brewing time for black tea is 5 seconds for first steeping, and plus 5s for each infusion, 5 infusions in total.
The quality of the tea leaves will inform largely the steeping time.
The brewing guide is for reference only, you can always make your tea the way you love by adjusting the Leaf-to-water Ratio, Water Temperature, and Length of Brewing!