The Art of the Pour: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Gongfu Tea

The Chinese tea ceremony, or Gongfu Cha, isn't just about drinking tea—it’s about the process. "Gongfu" translates to "skill" or "effort," and by using the right tools and techniques, you can unlock layers of flavor in your tea that a standard mug simply can't reach.

At Jiangnan Sourcing, we believe that everyone can master this mindful ritual. Here is our step-by-step guide to brewing like a professional.

Phase 1: The Setup (The Tools of the Trade)

Before you begin, gather your essentials. The harmony of your session depends on having the right vessels ready:

• The Brewer: A Gaiwan or a Yixing Zisha Teapot.

• The Justice: A Glass Fair Cup (Gongdao Bei).

• The Vessels: Small Gongfu Tea Cups.

• The Cleanup: A tea tray to catch overflow and a tea cloth.

Phase 2: The "Warm Up"

In Gongfu Cha, we never pour tea into a cold cup.

1. Pour boiling water into your empty teapot or Gaiwan.

2. Decant that water into your Fair Cup, and then into your Tasting Cups.

3. This "awakens" the teaware, ensuring the tea's temperature remains stable throughout the session.

Phase 3: The Awakening (The Rinse)

Place your loose-leaf tea into the brewer. Pour hot water over the leaves and immediately pour it out into the Fair Cup (and then discard it).

Pro Tip: This "rinse" isn't for drinking. It washes away tea dust and helps the compressed leaves (like Puerh or Oolong) begin to unfurl so they can release their full aroma.

Phase 4: The Infusion (The Main Event)

Now, fill your brewer again. Because we use a high leaf-to-water ratio, the steeping times are very short—often only 10 to 20 seconds.

• The Pour: Pour the tea from your brewer into the Fair Cup. This stops the brewing process and mixes the liquor so the strength is uniform.

• The Service: Pour from the Fair Cup into the individual Gongfu Tea Cups.

Phase 5: Appreciation & Repeat

Gongfu tea is meant to be enjoyed over many rounds.

• Observe: Look at the color in your cup.

• Scent: Smell the bottom of the empty Fair Cup or Tasting Cup to catch the "lingering fragrance."

• Repeat: Add more water to your leaves, increasing the steep time by 5–10 seconds for each subsequent round. Quality leaves from Jiangnan Sourcing can often be steeped 8 to 12 times!

Why Quality Matters

A successful ceremony relies on materials that respect the tea. Whether it’s the heat-retaining power of Cast Iron or the flavor-enhancing properties of Yixing Clay, your choice of teaware is the final ingredient in every cup.

Ready to start your journey? Browse our Starter Tea Sets to find everything you need in one curated package.