TEA UTENSIL TO BREWING PU'ER TEA

Hi ! Everyone,

Further to my previous post, I write to discuss further on the topic on tea utensils.

UTENSILS

Some of you may aware that tea can be prepared in a variety of styles, using many different types of tea pots, vessels, utensils, serving pitchers, cups and water temperatures. Tea preparation throughout cultures and centuries is as diverse as tea itself.

TEA POT

As far as brewing Pu'er tea is concern, its tea leaves are much larger in size when soak inside boiling water. Because of its characteristic, you need a bigger pot for allowing  tea to flow out easily..


GENERAL GUIDE FOR PURCHASING A GOOD TEA POT

For passionate tea drinkers, teapots are invaluable collectible treasures and they can accompany their masters throughout their life like dear and cherished friends. Therefore take your time to choose the right teapot to accompany you. Here are a few points you need to check and ensure that:-

- it pours evenly and is not too heavy. which determine the quality of the workmanship of the maker.

- its handle is well-balanced and is comfortable to hold.

- its handle is not hollow or too hot to hold when boiling water added into it.

- its lid fits well and secure. A small hole at the top is to allow air to enter the pot and acts as a force behind when water is poured out..

It is worthwhile to take your time to choose the pot you really love especially for those who use it daily or frequently. It may become your most treasured possession after long usage. Some pots may become alive when they interact with the teas - the clay surface of the pot become more and more naturally shiny after each usage. Its clay become lively in the eyes of its collector and its value will also go up.

Some owners will treat their pots as their treasures especially those that can deliver marvelous tea that relaxes, revitalizes, warms, and cheers the owners' and their guests' souls.


SIMPLIFIED STYLE OF TEA BREWING

In Asia "Gung-Fu" style of brewing is the most often used and is preferred method for preparing tea. It differs from the traditional way that tea is brewed in Western cultures. The main differences are:


smaller tea pot

larger quantity of tea leaves

shorter steeper times

tea leaves are steeped a number of times before being discarded



BASIC STEPS FOR TEA BREWING

Tea Utensils

small tea pot

small, shallow tea cups

tea board

tea accessories - tong for holding heated cups, small spoon for the tea leaves, small pick to keep the mouth of the tea pot from becoming clogged with leaves.



Basic Steps

1. boil water to just below a rolling boil
2. place tea pot, cups onto the tea board - place cups in a semi-circle around the pot so that their sides are touching each other
3. pour the boiled water over the tea pot and cups to rinse them - use the tongs to empty the small cups - your fingers should not touch the cups
4. fill the small pot about 1/3 full of tea leaves
5. add hot water and immediately pour off - this washes the leaves
6. add hot water a second time - steep for approximately 30 seconds
7. pour the tea slowly over the cups, without lifting the tea pot between cups - this ensures each cup has a consistent flavour
8. once again add water to the pot and allow to steep about an extra 15 seconds
9. repeat this process until there is no flavour remaining in the leaves - high quality leaves can often be infused 8 to 10 times
10. each time hot water is added increase steeping time 10 - 15 seconds, the third infusion is most often the most flavourful - the leaves have totally unfurled and are releasing their flavours



THESE ARE SIMPLIFIED STEPS ONLY - TRADITIONAL STYLE IS MUCH MORE CEREMONIAL AND COMPLEX.


I will discuss more in-depth in my forthcoming post.

Trust you enjoy all these while. Thank you and see you again,

Cheers and have a lovely day,

James Oh