How to Brew Tea in a Gaiwan or Yixing Pot

Brewing Tea in a Chinese Gaiwan

Brewing Tea in a Chinese Yixing Pot

Below are some brewing guidelines for making loose-leaf tea in a gaiwan or yixing teapot using multiple infusions. This works especially well for wulong and puer teas.

You need three things:

  1. A gaiwan or Yixing/Chaozhou teapot
  2. ~5-8 grams loose-leaf tea (3/4 to 3 Tb, depending on the tea)
  3. ~4-8 oz (~100-230ml) water, depending on the vessel
    • Boiling (100°C or 212°F): for black, puer, wulong, and herbal teas
    • Under a boil (85-88°C or 185-190°F): for green, white, and yellow teas

For 5 grams of tea:
First infusion: 1 min
Remaining infusions (in minutes): 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 8
Extend time amount for remaining steeps until no more flavor

For 8 grams of tea:
First two infusions: 30 seconds
Remaining infusions (in minutes): 1, 1, 2, 3, 5
Extend time amount for remaining steeps until no more flavor

Note:
When making black, wulong, and puer teas, you may pre warm your vessel to better maintain the temperature of the water. You may rinse your puer tea with a small amount of water and quickly pour it out.