TeaTimeGuy

When it come to the way in which teas is being consumed, there are so many methods people can brew them regarding to their culture, traditions, their joy and so on. Also, there are many tea books out there which illustrate and guide tea consumers the specific way to steep them, but there are no a hundred percents of accuracy on which are right or wrong. The matter is on how much do you enjoy your art of making teas.

However, Tea is my everyday routine beverage that I hardly ever miss even a single cup in my everyday life. Therefore, I often use several different method to steep each one of them and try to figure out the best way to brew them through the tea books. Plus, I also  learn those key from other tea bloggers as well. So here, The 4 Most Favorites Tea Making Styles and Methods that I often apply when I need to enjoy cups of tea.

1. The Clay Tea Ware

The Clay Tea Pot which also has known as Yixing Pot or Zisha Hu (紫砂壶)  in Chinese  is a kind of Chinese traditional tea pots which normally come with a small size and it devide into 4 types in size: 70ml, 100ml, 175ml and 225ml. The clay tea ware has invented approximately five to six hundred years in Yixing city of Jiangsu Province.

This kind of tea ware has not only provide a great ability to keep warm, but it has also significances in improving the taste of the tea compare to other tea making method such as glass method or porcelain teapots.

This kind of tea pots have a great variety in making any types of tea, but I personally prefer using them to make Oolong Tea, Black tea (HongCha) and Pu’er Tea as this three tea types normally have a strong fragrant and taste, therefore they can create even better in flavor and fragrant.

2. GaiWan or Bowl with a lid

Gaiwan （盖碗）which can translate as “Covered bowl” or ” Bowl with lid” is a type of Teaware which can be made from glass, porcelain, jade or clay. It was invented during Ming dynasty ( 1368- 1644). Gaiwan can normally contain 100ml to 150ml of water. It is used to brew any types of teas, but it is better to steep with Oolong or Green tea.

It is one of my most favorite method that I like to use when I want to brew my tea. I mostly brew it with Oolong tea such as Tie Guan Yin. I do enjoy brewing tea with this kind of method when I have a small tea party with friends around 3 or 4 people. This is a fun brewing pots as it can play in 2 major roles in tea ware, it can be a tea pot or it can also be a tea cup as well. 

3. Grandpa’s Style and Glass Tea Pot

These two ways of brewing are both of my most common use method to brew myself a  tea. I mostly apply this method to brew with Green tea such as Longjin, Bi Luo Chun, Tai Ping Hou Kuai. Beside that, I also brew them with some kinds Oolong such as Tie Guan Yin, Dongding Oolong, However, I know that it is not the best way to brew Oolong, but I sometimes still apply this procedure because of two reasons: 1. I like to see tea leaves swimming in the glass, 2. I have not had enough time to brew tea, but I am craving for it😁😁. The other Reason that I like brew green tea by using grandpa style is that I can simply drink them with the glass and this make me feel as if I connected directly with Tea. Furthermore, it is easier for me to see the tea leaves and it is a convenient way to consider how good a green tea is as glass has a clear surface so that I am be able to recognize easily.

I usually apply these two methods for my morning tea routine, as in the morning I normally busy with some preparation for the whole day plan. Therefore, these two are the most suitable way for me.

4.  Western Style

Western tea style

For western tea style is one of tea the style that I less likely to brew with because I do love to have more fun with tea on the tea tray with traditional Gongfu tea style. Therefore, I it seem to less participate with western method. I normally make tea with this method when I have a important and serious meeting that I need to concentrate on the speaks.

However, this kind of tea style I brew with all types of tea, but I always keep in mind with the basic tea brewing method to make sure that tea quality come out with a standards quality. Thus, I always make sure to warms the pots and cups, plus remove the tea leaves or tea bags in the appropriates period of times.

Shawn 🙂