We often receive the following question: Why brew tea Gong Fu style?
In this article, we will examine the benefits of drinking tea, both gong fu style and one-time brewing (Western tea), and discuss why we prefer the Chinese way of brewing tea.
Brewing Tea in Western Style
It is totally fine to brew your tea the good old way that we are all used to, by pouring the tea leaves into a brewing vessel and letting them steep for a few minutes.
By brewing tea in a large vessel, we allow it to open up all at once, giving us all its flavor in one go. You may not recognize all the subtleties we get from gradually opening the tea’s taste, but you will get a cup of delicious tea with a nice aroma nonetheless. One time brewing loose tea leaves beats tea bags any day!
How To Brew Tea Western Style
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Prepare a teapot or any brewing vessel of choice.
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Place the appropriate amount of tea leaves inside.
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Brew the tea using the optimal water temperature.
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After the right amount of time has passed, remove the tea leaves to prevent over-brewing (For this purpose, we recommend using a teapot with a strainer).
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Pour the tea into your tea cups and enjoy!
Watch the video on how to brew tea, Western style
Brewing Tea in Gong Fu Cha Style
On the other hand, if you choose to make Gong Fu tea for yourself or for friends, it becomes more of an experience.
Gong Fu differs from the Western way of brewing in that it allows for the tea to open to its full potential gradually.
While ‘Gong Fu’ or the Chinese tea ceremony may look complicated and tedious for first-timers, in reality, it is not as difficult as it seems. Anyone can learn how to brew tea Gong Fu style, and you do not have to be a tea master to do it. It’s very likely that after trying it once for yourself, it might just become a habit!
How To Make Gong Fu Tea
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Preheat the teapot by pouring hot water into it.
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Empty the vessel, place the tea leaves inside, and let them warm up for half a minute. (Amount of tea used will differ depending on the tea type).
Smell the tea leaves. You will notice the aroma change as the tea leaves slowly open.
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Start brewing your tea: decant all the tea, each time, after only 10 seconds or so of steeping. (Brew times will differ depending on the tea type).
Look at the color of the liquid, inhale the aroma, sip slowly, and you will feel the tea gradually change.
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With each infusion, the flavor transforms – some more robust, some sweeter, some delicate.
Watch the video on how to brew tea, GongFu Cha style
Gong Fu means “skill achieved through time, patience, and effort”. Therefore, Gong Fu Cha means "Tea made with skill and effort". This is a journey filled with tranquility. Let yourself meditate together with the tea. Let it tell you its story. Drinking a Milk Oolong, you might find yourself in the Alishan mountains of Taiwan. Or maybe a Da Hong Pao will transport you to the vast tea farms of the Wuyi Mountains in China…
By brewing Gong Fu style, we get the most out of our tea. 5-10 infusions from most teas; others even more than that. It doesn’t have to be every day. Even if you find just one day a week to enjoy Gong Fu Cha, it is well worth the effort.
Gong Fu Vs Western Tea. Conclusion.
Certain high-quality teas, when brewed Gong Fu style, can offer us over 15 infusions. Of course, that means that the whole tea ceremony can go on for hours on end! This is an exceptional practice to enjoy, especially when we have the time for it or when we are in the company of friends. For those times, and for when we wish to connect with the tea truly, we go with Gong Fu Cha.
However, when we are slightly more pressed for time, perhaps at work or on the go, yet still want a delicious, flavorful tea, we turn to Western-style tea brewing. We genuinely believe there is no right or wrong here, and it all boils down to personal preferences and the situation at hand.