White Tea

Temperature Use boiled water, cooled to 185 to 203°. Some white tea can withstand boiling water. White tea generally favors hotter water than green tea, but sometimes somewhat less than boiling temperature. White tea flavor is heavily reliant on polyphenols and partially-oxidized substances that extract best at near boiling temperature, similar to oolong and black tea. While, white tea also tends to be made from younger buds and leaves with more delicate aromatics. This can at times necessitate reduced brewing temperatures. White Tea that that has more delicate leaves, or was harvested very early can require cooler temperatures within the given range for brewing.

Cool Water Let boiled water sit for 1 to 2 minutes prior to its use for brewing, or alternatively, pour boiling water from a high level above the tea pot to benefit from air cooling. Foregoing pot heating is also an option.

Pot Heating Fill the tea pot 70% full with hot water. Close the lid. Discard after 10 seconds. This warms the pot to prevent a drop in temperature when brewing tea.

Amount 1.5 g tea in 4 oz of water (individual) or 3.0 g tea in 8 oz of water (small).

Brewing

Most White Tea Place the correct amount of leaves in the tea pot (1.5 g or 3.0 g). Fill a compatible tea pot with the correct amount of 185 to 203° water (4 oz or 8 oz). Try to pour around the leaves, and not directly on them. First brewing time is 20 to 30 seconds. Second and third brewing will be about 2 seconds. Add an additional 5-8 seconds with subsequent brewing. 6, or more brews are often possible. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher to prevent the leaves from scalding, or serve directly. Likewise, keep the lid off between brews to limit continued heat accumulation and to prevent further oxidation of the leaves.

Green Tea

Temperature Use boiled water, cooled to 167 to 185°. Green tea flavor is heavily reliant on theanine and other amino acids for aroma that extract best at cooler temperatures. Although Sencha with a higher polyphenol (EGCG) content can require higher temperatures of 194°. Overall Japanese Green Tea prefers slightly cooler temperatures of 167 to 176°, while some particularly tender Gyokuro can require still cooler temperatures of 158°.

Cool Water Let boiled water sit for 3 to 4 minutes prior to its use for brewing, or alternatively, pour boiling water from a high level above the tea pot to benefit from air cooling. Foregoing pot heating is also an option.

Pot Heating Fill the tea pot 70% full with hot water. Close the lid. Discard after 10 seconds. This warms the pot to prevent a drop in temperature when brewing tea.

Amount 2.0 g tea in 4 oz of water (individual) or 4.0 g tea in 8 oz of water (small).

Brewing

Most Green Tea Place the correct amount of leaves in the tea pot (2.0 g or 4.0 g). Fill a compatible tea pot with the correct amount of 167 to 185° water (4 oz or 8 oz). Try to pour around the leaves, and not directly on them. First brewing time is 20 to 30 seconds. Second and third brewing will be 2 to 3 seconds. Add an additional 10 seconds with subsequent brewing. 5, or more brews are possible. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher to prevent the leaves from scalding, or serve directly. Likewise, keep the lid off between brews to limit continued heat accumulation and to prevent further oxidation of the leaves. For Sencha the first brewing time is 1 minute. For Gyokuro the first brewing time is 30 to 40 seconds. Subsequent brewing times are unchanged.

Oolong Tea

Temperature  Use boiling water, as close to 212° as possible. Oolong tea flavor is heavily reliant on polyphenols and partially oxidized substances that extract best at boiling temperature.

Pot Heating Fill the tea pot 70% full with boiling water. Close the lid. Discard after 20 seconds. This warms the pot to prevent a drop in temperature when brewing tea.

Amount 2.5 g tea in 4 oz of water (individual) or 5.0 g tea in 8 oz of water (small).

Tea Rinse  Place the correct amount of leaves in the tea pot (2.5 g or 5.0 g). Fill the tea pot 50% full with boiling water. Close the lid. Discard after 7 seconds. This allows the tea leaves to become warm, hydrate and unfurl.  As the tea leaves expand their greater surface area means they are adequately prepared to brew a great cup of tea. Remember to not linger too long with the rinse as you may lose tea value. Phoenix oolong requires a shorter 3 second rinse time. Likewise, oolong with fine, floral aromatics may requires a shorter rinse time. You may consider 2 short rinses in the latter case.

Brewing

Most Oolong  Fill a compatible tea pot with the correct amount of boiling water (4 oz or 8 oz). First brewing time is 55 seconds. Second brewing will be 45 seconds. Add 10 seconds to each subsequent brew. 3 to 5, or more brews are possible. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher to prevent the leaves from scalding, or serve directly. Keep the lid off between brews to limit continued heat accumulation and to prevent further oxidation of the leaves.

Phoenix Oolong and Floral Oolong Teas  Fill a compatible tea pot with the correct amount of boiling water (4 oz or 8 oz). First brewing time is 10 to 20 seconds. Subsequent brewing time will be up to 10 seconds. 7, or more brews are possible. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher to prevent the leaves from scalding, or serve directly. Keep the lid off between brews to limit continued heat accumulation and to prevent further oxidation of the leaves.

Result This brewing method, is valuable if you are “on the go.” It will provide a delicious cup, lighter in style, with less of the full flavor produced by Gong Fu brewing.

Black Tea

Temperature Use boiling water, as close to 212° as possible. Black tea flavor is heavily reliant on polyphenols, such as theaflavin and catechin, as well as oxidized substances that extract best at boiling temperature.

Pot Heating Fill the tea pot 70% full with boiling water. Close the lid. Discard after 20 seconds. This warms the pot to prevent a drop in temperature when brewing tea.

Amount 2.0 g tea in 4 oz of water (individual) or 4.0 g tea in 8 oz of water (small).

Brewing

Most Black Tea Place the correct amount of leaves in the tea pot (2.0 g or 4.0 g). Fill a compatible tea pot with the correct amount of boiling water (4 oz or 8 oz). First brewing time is 30 to 45 seconds. Rarely, certain black teas require longer brewing. Second brewing will be 3 seconds. Add an additional 5 to 10 seconds with subsequent brewing as needed. 3 to 5, or more brews are possible. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher to prevent the leaves from scalding, or serve directly. Likewise, keep the lid off between brews to limit continued heat accumulation and to prevent further oxidation of the leaves.

Pu-erh Tea

Temperature Use boiling water, as close to 212° as possible. Pu-erh tea flavor is heavily reliant on polyphenols and partially oxidized substances that extract best at boiling temperature.

Pot Heating Fill the tea pot 70% full with boiling water. Close the lid. Discard after 20 seconds. This warms the pot to prevent a drop in temperature when brewing tea. 

Amount 5.0 g tea in 4 oz of water (individual).

Tea Rinse  Place the correct amount of leaves in the tea pot (5.0 g). Fill the tea pot 50% full with boiling water. Close the lid. Discard immediately. Repeat the water rinse once more. This allows the tea leaves to become warm, hydrate and unfurl.  As the tea leaves expand their greater surface area means they are adequately prepared to brew a great cup of tea. Remember to not linger too long with the rinse as you may lose tea value.

Brewing

Most Pu-erh Tea Fill a compatible tea pot with the correct amount of boiling water (4 oz). The first brewing time is 3 seconds. Second brewing, and all subsequent brewing will be less than 3 seconds. 8 to 10 brews are possible. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher to prevent the leaves from scalding, or serve directly. Likewise, keep the lid off between brews to limit continued heat accumulation and to prevent further oxidation of the leaves.