How to Brew Chinese Tea?

Demonstration / Su Shiou-huei (蘇秀慧), the owner of Su Shiou-huei Tea Tasting Studio
Location / Su Shiou-huei Tea Tasting Studio (蘇秀慧茶飲工作室)
Photo / Fan Lee (李東陽)


Steps to Brew Chinese Tea


1. Warming up the teapot, serving mug, and tea cup: Pour hot water into the teapot, the serving mug, and the tea cup. The hot water in the tea cup can be drunk in order to cleanse the mouth. To protect the environment, the used hot water in the teapot and the serving mug can be collected for other purposes, such as cleaning.

2. Placing tea leaves: Put tea leaves into the teapot from the tea tray.

3. Pouring water: Pour hot water into the teapot in a clockwise direction. While placing tea leaves and pouring water, the key to making these movements lies in "being mindful without scattered thoughts" so that the quality of the tea can remain consistent.

4. Pouring tea to the serving mug: Wait calmly for the tea to brew. When the tea is ready to serve, pour it from the teapot into the serving mug. The pace of pouring is important: avoid a long-and-drawn-out process with hesitant drips. Instead, pour with a clean and straightforward flow in a smooth rhythm.

5. Pouring the tea into tea cups: The tea host first pours the tea into their own cup, saying to the guests: "Allow me to taste the newly brewed tea." After checking its taste, the host then pours the tea for the guests. Even for -experienced tea hosts, this gesture shows not only modesty but also respect for the guests.

6. Asking the guests to taste the tea: Invite guests to sniff and savor the tea.


7. Smelling the remaining fragrance and observe the tea leaves: Take out the tea leaves from the teapot and place them in the waste container, and invite the guests to appreciate the remaining fragrance and the form of the tea leaves.

8. Serving plain water to the guests: After savoring the tea, the host serves plain water for guests to cleanse their mouth. This action implies to not let the guests leave with attachments in mind.


9. Serving refreshments: Since tea is helpful to digestion, when the tea tasting event comes to an end, the drinkers' blood glucose levels may be low. Having some refreshments at this time can help raise their blood sugar levels.

10. Restoring the tea set: Conclude the event by restoring the tea set back to its original state.



Get to Know the Tea Utensils



Heater: The heat source where the kettle stands. Alcohol burners can be used to keep the water hot. If fire is not an option, electronic heaters can also be used.

Teapot: The lead character in the arrangement of a tea set. One can choose suitable tea leaves to match the character of the teapot.

Teapot stand: The plate to hold the teapot.

Serving mug: In order to serve the tea with consistent concentration, tea can be blended and homogenized here. The pot thus earns the name "fairness pitcher."   

Clean square: Square towels for cleaning utensils, also known as tea towels.

Tea cup and saucer: The cup for tasting tea and the saucer to hold the cup.

Waste container: Container for wastes.

Loose tea tray: Container to hold loose tea leaves. Usually made from ceramic or porcelain.

Tea scoop: The scoop for scooping out loose tea leaves.

Tea mat: The sheet that covers the tea table, drawing out the designated area for the hosts to carry out the event.




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Related articles:

The Taste of Chan in Tea

Chan in the Aroma and Color of Tea

Tea Regimen

Things to be Aware of when having Tea for Recreational or Medicinal Purpose

Tea and Buddhist Monasteries

Go Have Some Tea – A Gong'an about Tea

The Art of the Tea Ceremony

How to Brew Chinese Tea?



Resource: Issue 291 of Humanity Magazine (November 2007), Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation: Li Siang-ling
Editing: Keith Brown, Claire