Chinese Tea-101

Welcome to Tea 101 from TeaStart!

This article discusses loose leaf tea. If you're curious about the difference between tea bags and loose leaf tea, please visit our Loose Leaf Tea vs. Tea Bags article.

If you're curious about the world of Chinese tea, you might feel a little intimidated. You see images of complex ceremonies and hear names like Dragon Well, Iron Goddess, and Big Red Robe. It can all seem overwhelming.

Let's clear the air right now. The ceremony is an optional layer of art. The act of making tea is simple. At its core, it is just three steps: leaves in, water in, water out.

We believe great tea should be simple and delicious. This guide will skip the jargon and give you a foolproof path to your first amazing cup. And before we start, just remember the one "Golden Rule" that will solve almost any brewing problem:

If your tea tastes too strong, steep it for less time. If it tastes too weak, steep it for more time.

That’s it. With that one rule, you're ready to begin your journey.

Step 1: Choose Your First Chinese Tea

The key to starting is not to learn all six types of Chinese tea at once. Instead, just get to know a few key "characters" to see which personality you like best. We recommend starting with one of these four to discover your personal taste.

• For a Smooth & Nutty Taste: Try a Dragon Well (Longjing) Green Tea. This is nothing like a bitter green tea bag. It’s famously gentle, with a comforting roasted chestnut aroma.

• For a Floral & Aromatic Experience: Try an Iron Goddess (Tie Guan Yin) Oolong or a Milk Oolong. These teas are showstoppers, with intoxicating natural aromas of orchid or creamy sweetness. They will show you how fragrant tea can be.

• For a Sweet & Mellow Flavor: Try a Keemun Black Tea and No.9 Yinghong Black tea. Unlike some astringent breakfast teas, Keemun is famously smooth and rich, with notes of honey, cocoa, and a hint of fruit.

• For a Light & Delicate Sip: Try a White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) or a unique varietal like our No. 1521 White Tea. Made from tender buds and leaves, these teas are minimally processed and taste clean, soft, and sweet, like honeydew melon and wildflowers.

What to Look For When Buying

When you buy your first tea, just look for one thing: whole, unbroken leaves. They should look mostly intact, not like dust. Good tea should also smell good even before you brew it—fresh, clean, and inviting.

The Easiest First Step

The best way to learn is to taste. Our Exploration Gift Box was designed specifically for beginners like you. It features a curated selection of our most approachable and delicious loose-leaf teas, making it the perfect first step on your flavor adventure.

Step 2: How to Brew (From Easiest to Pro)

There are many ways to make great tea. Let's start with the absolute easiest methods that require almost no skill, and then level up from there.

Level 1: The "Just Add Water" Methods (Zero Skill Required)

• The Cold Brew Method: This is the most foolproof way to make delicious tea, especially in the summer. It produces a brew with zero bitterness, a super smooth texture, and a naturally sweet flavor.

  • The Easiest Way (Recommended): Simply put a spoonful of tea leaves (Green, White, and light Oolongs work best) into a bottle or jar, fill it with cold water, and let it sit in the fridge for 6-8 hours. That's it.

  • Advanced Tip (The "Ice Drip"): You may have heard of ice drip coffee; the same can be done with tea. This involves layering ice and tea leaves in a special brewer and letting the ice melt slowly, dripping through the leaves. It's a fun technique but for now, the simple fridge method is perfect.

• The "Grandpa Style" Method: This is the most casual, everyday way to drink tea in China. All you need is a large mug.

  • How to do it: Put your leaves directly into the mug and add hot water. Let it cool to a drinkable temperature and enjoy. As the water level gets low, just top it up with more hot water.

  • Simple Ratios for a 500ml (16oz) Mug:

    • Green Tea: ~4g

    • Black Tea: ~5g

    • Oolong Tea: ~5g

    • White Tea: ~5g

    • We don't recommend this method for Pu-erh tea

Level 2: The Modern & Portable Way

For a perfect cup on the go, a modern infuser mug is a game-changer. These devices use a "tea and water separation" mechanism to give you the control of a teapot with the convenience of a travel mug.

Tools like our ZenPour Lock or the Glass Separation Tea Cup make brewing simple. You put leaves in the infuser chamber, add water to the main body, and flip or press a button to let the tea steep. When the time is up, you separate them again, locking in a perfect brew. You can find many similar convenient tools on Amazon or eBay as well.

Level 3: The Authentic Ritual — Mastering the Gaiwan

When you're ready to connect more deeply with your tea and explore its full potential, it's time to meet the Gaiwan.

• What is a Gaiwan & Why Do Pros Use It? A Gaiwan (盖碗) is a simple "lidded bowl." It's the preferred tool for serious tea drinkers for a few key reasons:

  • Flavor Purity: Unlike an unglazed clay pot (like a Zisha or Yixing pot, which is for advanced users and dedicated to one tea type), a ceramic or porcelain Gaiwan won't absorb any flavor or aroma. It shows you the 100% true taste of the tea.

  • Versatility: You can brew any type of tea in it.

  • Practicality: It's inexpensive, incredibly easy to clean, and allows you to easily see and smell the leaves as they brew.

• How to Safely Use a Gaiwan:

  1. Prep & Awaken: Place leaves in the Gaiwan. Pour hot water over them just long enough to get them wet, and immediately pour that water out. This "awakens" the leaves.

  2. Brew: Refill with hot water. Beginner Safety Tip: Do not fill the water to the brim. Fill it to about the 70% mark, leaving the rim cool enough to hold. Steep for just 15-20 seconds.

  3. Hold & Pour: This is the key part.

     • The Grip: Use your thumb and middle finger to hold the outside edges of the bowl. Use your index finger (or knuckle) to press down firmly on the lid's knob.

     • The Pour: Tilt the lid slightly to create a small gap, just big enough for water to flow out while holding the leaves back. Confidently and smoothly pour the tea into your cup.

Congratulations! You just completed a professional-level brewing. And remember, the best part is re-brewing the same leaves to see how the flavor evolves.

Your Journey, Your Tea

From the effortless chill of a cold brew to the focused ritual of a Gaiwan, the world of Chinese tea is open to everyone. It doesn't have a high barrier to entry; it only has endless flavor and enjoyment waiting for you.

A Final Thought from Our Founder, Anken

"Don't pursue the 'best' tea. Just like people, there is no 'best' in any aspect of our lives. The concept of 'good tasting' is decided by you. An expensive tea and a cheap tea are the same—tea is just tea, that's all. We are here to enjoy the journey of life, and tea is just one of the many joys within it."

We love hearing from you. If this guide helped you, feel free to leave a comment below or send us a message at customerservice@teastart.com.

The TEASTART community is excited for you to join.

If you're fascinated by the 'why' behind these traditions, you’ll love our deep dive into the History and Culture of Chinese Tea.

Further reading:

• Exploring Types of Chinese Tea: A Beginner's Guide
• Ultimate Green Tea Brewing Guide: Best Methods for Each Variety

Ready to start your adventure? Grab our Exploration Gift Box and put your new skills to the test!