The Art of Chinese Kung Fu Tea: A Complete Guide to How to Brew Tea

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Exploring the Art of Chinese Tea Ceremony

- Kung Fu Tea and Chinese Tea Culture
- The Core Principles of Chinese Tea Ceremony

2. Preparing Teaware for Brewing Tea

- A List of Essential Teaware
- Choosing the Right Teaware

3. Brewing a Cup of Authentic Chinese Green Tea

- Introduction to Green Tea Brewing Techniques
- Bottom Drip Technique
- Middle Drip Technique
- Top Drip Technique
- Recommended Brewing Procedures

4. Brewing a Cup of Authentic Chinese White Tea

- Characteristics of White Tea
- Suitable Techniques for Brewing White Tea
- Middle Drip Technique
- Bottom Drip Technique
- Brewing Procedures

5. Brewing a Cup of Authentic Chinese Oolong Tea

- Characteristics of Oolong Tea
- Brewing Methods of Oolong Tea
- Steps for Using a Covered Bowl
- Techniques for Awakening the Aroma of Tea Leaves

6. Brewing a Cup of Authentic Black or Dark Tea

- Fermentation Degrees of Black and Dark Tea
- Suitable Brewing Techniques for Black and Dark Tea
- Bottom drip method
- Brewing steps

7. Conclusion

- Understand tea and find the right brewing method
- The art of brewing tea: experience and exploration

The Art of Chinese Kung Fu Tea: A Complete Guide to Tea Brewing Methods

In this guide, we will take a deep dive into the traditional Chinese tea brewing methods. China has a long and rich tea brewing culture, in which "Gongfu Tea" or "Kung Fu Tea" occupies an important position. Literally, "Gongfu Tea" means "brewing tea with superb skills", but in fact it is the embodiment of the essence of tea art, containing a deep fusion of skills and culture.

Kung Fu Tea: More than a Skill, More than a Cultural Expression

Kung Fu Tea is not just a simple way to brew tea, it is also a cultural experience. Although many Chinese and Chinese people know that Kung Fu Tea is an important part of their culture, relatively few people can truly master the art of Kung Fu Tea brewing. This is because Kung Fu Tea pays attention to precision and attention to detail, especially in controlling various variables in the brewing process, which also makes it regarded as a highly sophisticated skill in the art of tea.

Unlike the symbolic ritual aesthetics of Japanese tea ceremony, Chinese tea ceremony focuses more on practicality. Whether it is used for entertaining guests or for personal use, the core goal of Chinese Kung Fu Tea is to maximize the flavor of the tea leaves and achieve a high degree of consistency in taste in every brew.

Why learn the art of brewing Kung Fu tea

For beginners, learning Kung Fu tea is not just about mastering techniques, but also a way to experience Chinese traditional culture and lifestyle. Kung Fu tea allows people to slow down and experience the changes in tea fragrance, the charm of tea soup, and communication with tea friends through meticulous tea brewing movements.

In this guide, we will introduce the art of brewing Chinese tea in detail, including the characteristics of different types of tea, the choice of utensils, the brewing steps, and how to present the beauty of Kung Fu tea in different scenarios. Through this guide, you will be able to have a deeper understanding of how to integrate Kung Fu tea into daily life and feel its unique charm and value.

Prepare your Chinese tea set

The first step to brew a pot of Gongfu tea is to prepare the necessary tea sets. Complete preparation can not only show the ritual sense of tea art, but also release the flavor of tea more perfectly. Here is a list of tea sets you need to prepare:

1. Tea leaves
- Choose the right Chinese tea according to your taste and needs, such as green tea, oolong tea, Pu'er tea or black tea.

2. Teapot or covered bowl
- Choose a teapot of appropriate size, depending on the number of people and the amount of tea. If you have a covered bowl, you can use it as an alternative. Western-style glass pots or porcelain pots can also meet the brewing needs.

3. Fair cup (fair pot with lid)
- Used to evenly distribute the brewed tea soup into each tea cup to ensure that each cup of tea tastes consistent.

4. Teaspoon or tea spoon
- The Chinese tea spoon is a classic tool in the Gongfu tea ceremony, but you can also use a Western tea spoon for easy grasping of tea leaves.

5. Tea Clips
- Chinese tea clips are particularly important for the authentic Gongfu tea experience. They can be used to pick up tea cups or loose tea leaves to maintain the sense of ceremony and cleanliness.

6. Tea Strainer
- Use a fine-mesh Chinese tea strainer to filter the tea soup and ensure that no tea residue enters the tea cup. Tea strainers are an indispensable gadget in the Gongfu tea ceremony.

7. Tea Tray
- The tea tray is used to catch overflowing water or tea soup. It is a classic accessory of the Gongfu tea ceremony. If you don’t have a tea tray, you can use an ordinary plate or paper towel instead.

Tips: 

In order to make the entire tea brewing process smoother, it is recommended to arrange all items neatly and easily when preparing tea utensils. Neat and orderly arrangement not only enhances the tea brewing experience, but also shows your tea art cultivation and attention to detail.

By preparing the above tea utensils, you have prepared the first step for the authentic Chinese Gongfu tea experience. The next step is to learn how to use these tea utensils to brew a perfect cup of Gongfu tea.

Make a cup of authentic Chinese green tea

Chinese green tea (绿茶 lǜ chá) is famous for its fresh and natural flavor and elegant tea art. However, since the leaves of green tea are relatively delicate, special attention should be paid to temperature and technique during the brewing process to avoid destroying the flavor and aroma of the tea. Here are three common brewing methods:

1. Bottom drip technique

This method involves putting the tea leaves into the teapot first and then pouring hot water. It is the most common brewing method and is suitable for most types of green tea, especially flat tea leaves that tend to float.

Steps:

1. Warm the cup and kettle: Heat the teapot with hot water and then pour out the water.

2. Add tea leaves: Add tea leaves to the pot at a ratio of 1 gram of tea leaves per 50 ml of water.

3. Pour hot water: Pour hot water at about 80°C into the pot to about one-third of the pot's capacity.

4. Rotate the teapot: Gently tilt the teapot and rotate it slowly twice to initially soak the tea leaves.

5. Continue to pour water: Pour more hot water until the teapot is almost full, and let it stand for 1-3 minutes to allow the tea aroma to be fully released.

6. Continue to brew: When one-third of the tea soup is left, you can add water to brew, usually three times.

2. Middle-pour technique

The middle-pour technique is to divide the pouring of water, pouring tea, and re-pouring of water into three steps. This method is particularly suitable for green tea leaves with slender or bud-shaped shapes, which helps to prevent the tea leaves from unfolding prematurely.

Steps:

1. Warm the cup and warm the pot: Heat the teapot with hot water, then pour out the water.

2. Pour hot water: Pour hot water at about 80°C into the pot, about one-third of the capacity.

3. Add tea leaves: Add tea leaves at a ratio of 1 gram of tea leaves per 50 ml of water.

4. Rotate the teapot: Tilt the teapot and slowly rotate it twice to allow the tea leaves to gradually unfold.

5. Continue to pour water: Pour more hot water until the teapot is almost full and let it sit for 1-3 minutes.

6. Continue to brew: Same as the bottom drip technique, add water when the tea is one-third full, and you can brew three times.

3. Top drip technique

The top drip method is suitable for extremely delicate high-end green teas, such as Mingqian Longjing or Maojian. This method avoids direct impact on the tea leaves, preserving their integrity and quality.

Steps:

1. Warm the cup and kettle: Heat the teapot with hot water and then pour out the water.

2. Fill with hot water: Pour hot water at about 80°C into the pot, almost filling the pot.

3. Add tea leaves: Add 1 gram of tea leaves to every 50 ml of water, and gently place the tea leaves in the water.

4. Let the tea soak naturally for 1-3 minutes to release the aroma and flavor.

5. Re-steep: You can also re-steep the tea three times, and each time you need to control the soaking time to be slightly longer.

Notes

- Water temperature control: Green tea leaves are delicate, and too high water temperature will destroy the flavor of the tea leaves. It is usually recommended to keep it between 75°C-85°C.
- Tea amount: The amount of tea should be adjusted according to the capacity of the teapot and personal taste to avoid the tea flavor being too strong or too weak.
- Utensil selection: Using a glass pot or a porcelain pot can better observe the process of tea leaves stretching, adding to the fun of brewing.

No matter which brewing method you choose, following these steps can maximize the unique flavor of Chinese green tea and bring you a wonderful tea art experience.

Brewing an Authentic Chinese White Tea

Chinese white tea is highly regarded for its light, fresh flavor and low oxidation properties. As white tea leaves are delicate and fragile, special attention to technique is required when brewing to preserve their unique aroma and soft taste. Here are two classic brewing methods suitable for white tea:

1. Medium drip method: for delicate white tea

The medium drip method is gentle and elegant, which can fully display the aroma and delicate taste of white tea. This method is especially recommended for high-quality white teas such as Baihao Yinzhen or Shoumei.

Utensils

- Gaiwan (preferably 110 ml) or glass/porcelain teapot

Steps

1. Warm the cup and kettle: Heat the gaiwan or teapot with hot water, then discard the water.

2. Fill with hot water: Pour hot water (80°C to 90°C) into the gaiwan to one-third of its capacity.

3. Add tea leaves: Add white tea at a ratio of 2 grams of tea leaves per 50 ml of water. For example, a 110 ml covered bowl can add about 5 grams of tea leaves.

4. Gently rotate the bowl: Tilt the covered bowl and gently rotate it twice to allow the tea leaves to fully contact the hot water.

5. Continue to pour water: Slowly add hot water until the covered bowl is almost full, avoiding direct impact on the tea leaves.

6. Soaking time: Let the tea leaves soak for about 5 to 6 minutes, and the aroma will be released naturally.

7. Re-soaking: When one-third of the tea soup is left, you can re-soak the water. White tea can usually be re-soaked 4 to 5 times, and the soaking time will be slightly extended each time.

2. Bottom drip method: suitable for thick white tea

The bottom drip method is suitable for white tea leaves with a thicker texture and not easy to break, such as new process white tea.

Utensils to use

- Glass pot, porcelain pot or covered bowl

Steps

1. Warm the cup and pot: Heat the tea set with hot water, then pour out the water.

2. Add tea leaves: Add 1 to 2 grams of tea leaves to every 50 ml of water, and put white tea at the bottom of the pot.

3. Pour hot water: Slowly pour hot water to one-third of the capacity of the tea set, keeping the water temperature at 80°C to 90°C to avoid direct impact on the tea leaves.

4. Gently rotate and brew: Tilt the teapot or covered bowl and slowly rotate it twice to ensure that the tea leaves are evenly soaked.

5. Continue to pour water: Pour more hot water until the tea set is almost full, and let it stand for 5 to 6 minutes to allow the tea aroma to be fully released.

6. Continue to brew: Similar to the medium drip method, when there is one-third of the tea soup left, you can add water to brew 4 to 5 times.

Notes

- Water temperature control: White tea is relatively delicate. If the water temperature is too high during brewing, it will destroy its delicate taste. Therefore, it needs to be controlled between 80°C and 90°C.
- Amount of tea leaves: Adjust the amount of tea leaves according to personal taste. The strength of tea taste varies from person to person.
- Utensil selection: Transparent glass pots or porcelain pots can better show the leaf shape and soup color of white tea, and increase the ornamental value of brewing.

By mastering these techniques, you will be able to taste the charming flavor of authentic white tea and feel the elegant charm of Chinese tea culture.

Brew an authentic cup of Chinese Oolong tea

As a semi-fermented tea, Oolong tea has a unique rich aroma and strong taste, and is an important representative of Chinese tea culture. When brewing Oolong tea, it is recommended to use a traditional covered bowl to fully display its rich aroma and taste. Here are the detailed brewing steps:

Recommended brewing method

Required utensils

- Covered bowl (110 ml covered bowl is recommended)
- Strainer
- Tea tray or plate suitable for placing covered bowl

Steps

1. Warm cup and kettle
Heat the covered bowl with boiling water (100°C), warm it all around, and then pour out the water to ensure that the tea set is at the right temperature.

2. Add tea leaves
Add tea leaves to the covered bowl at a ratio of 1 gram of oolong tea for every 20 to 30 ml of water. For example, a 110 ml covered bowl is recommended to put 4 grams of tea leaves.

3. "Awakening" the aroma of tea
- Quickly fill the lid with boiling water (100°C).
- Gently rotate the lid twice to allow the hot water to touch each tea leaf.
- Quickly pour out the water and use a strainer to filter out impurities. This process is called "washing the tea" and can stimulate the unique aroma of oolong tea.

4. Formal brewing
- Pour hot water again, this time the water temperature should be lowered to about 80°C.
- Let the tea leaves soak:
- Lightly fermented oolong tea (such as Tieguanyin): soak for 40 seconds.
- Deeply fermented oolong tea (such as Dahongpao): soak for 10 seconds.

5. Tasting and re-brewing
- Pour out the tea soup and filter out the tea residue through the strainer.
- When about one-third of the tea soup is left each time, you can add water and continue brewing.
- Usually oolong tea can be brewed 5 to 7 times, and the soaking time is slightly longer each time.

If you don't have a covered bowl

If you use a glass or porcelain teapot, the steps are the same as above, but please note the following two points:
- Amount of tea leaves: The capacity of a teapot is usually larger, so increase the amount of tea leaves in proportion.
- Soaking time: The heat retention capacity of a teapot is strong, so the first brewing time can be appropriately reduced to prevent the tea from being too strong.

Brewing tips

- Water quality: Using mineral water or purified water can better restore the flavor of oolong tea.
- Teaware selection: A transparent glass pot can more intuitively observe the beauty of the tea leaves stretching in the water, while a traditional covered bowl can better restore the authentic brewing experience.
- Aroma stimulation: During the brewing process of oolong tea, its aroma will change with each re-brew. Carefully feeling the progressive levels of its aroma is a pleasant tea tasting experience.

Through the above steps, you will experience the perfect fusion of the rich aroma and long-lasting sweetness of oolong tea, and feel the infinite charm of Chinese tea culture.

Brew a cup of authentic Chinese black or dark tea

Recommended brewing method

Required utensils

Steps

Brewing Tips

Conclusion