Small pot brewing is characteristically performed in a gaiwan or small teapot of approximately mL. There is no exact number of steeps that one should adhere to, but generally steeps at about seconds, adding seconds on each consecutive steep. It depends on individual flavor preference, quality of the oolong and shape of the leaf.
Tightly rolled leaves will stand up to several extractions, while leaves that are simply twisted will allow for fewer extractions. Before beginning this tea service, prepare by gathering your tea leaves, a teapot, small tea cups and a tea strainer and small decanter, also known as a fair cup. Some teapots have an additional strainer built in to the spout to ensure that no large particles will filter into your cup. Once you have these components, measure out the tea leaves according to the guidelines below.
After each subsequent extraction, you will be able to note the different flavor profiles between steeps, and how the flavor develops over time. For more tightly rolled oolongs, the first extractions will be soft and light.
For oolongs with open leaves that do not require a wake-up steeping, you will be able to experience a richer flavor in your first sip. From there, the flavor is subjective. Some oolongs may give off a steady experience, and some may have great variety between steeps. Small pot brewing is the most engaging, in-depth way to understand oolongs. While the oolong steeps, notice how the shape of the leaves changes and expands; observe how the liquor color develops from light to dark, then back to light toward the end of your steeping session; distinguish how the flavor evolves from soft to rich, and what happens in the final steeps.
There is no specific indicator that will signify when the oolong has finished steeping. As a general rule, the leaves have been fully extracted when the strength of the tea no longer comes through. This is different for each individual, and this traditional brewing practice encourages you to be inquisitive throughout each step of the process.
Close menu. The Western method is more suitable for beginner tea consumers and those who wish to quickly brew one cup and get back to the tasks of the day. Oolong tea is traditionally brewed the Chinese way using a yixing teapot or a gaiwan.
These vessels are small, and use a concentrated amount of oolong tea leaves. Leaves are brewed for a short period of time, but the process is repeated several times for multiple small cups. Yixing pots and gaiwans are traditionally placed on slotted bamboo trays for clean preparation and easy serving. A yixing teapot is a traditional tea brewing pot made from clay sourced from the Jiangsu province of China. Yixing teapots are designed for brewing oolong tea as well as black tea, pu-erh tea and white tea.
The clay pots absorb tea with each steeping, leading to a coating that resembles the flavor and color of the tea. Each teapot should only be used for one type of tea in order to best preserve and develop the rich flavor profiles. You should also avoid washing yixing pots with soap since this will dramatically alter the flavor coating and result in less flavorful tea brews.
A gaiwan is a lidded bowl without handles that is used along with a saucer to brew traditional Chinese teas. Developed by the Ming dynasty, these tea vessels date back centuries and are typically made of porcelain or glass. The large opening allows tea drinkers to visually enjoy oolong tea brews while the glazed surface prevents flavor alterations if used to brew different types of teas.
To use a gaiwan properly, hold the saucer with your fingers under and thumb resting on top of the saucer. Use your left hand to hold the lid and gently move the leaves when drinking. Oolong tea can also be prepared Western-style by simply using any teapot you have on hand.
While the experience won't be as culturally complete as the Chinese method, the Western brewing technique allows you to enjoy oolong tea even when you're in a hurry. Here, we'll focus on the Asian method of oolong tea brewing, but the Western method can be used as well. Simply pay attention to the proper amounts of tea, water temperature and steeping times to get the perfect cup of oolong tea. We recommend brewing oolong tea using loose leaves to develop the proper oolong flavors.
You can still use oolong tea bag if you prefer the convenience, but understand that the quality and flavor will likely be inferior to loose leaf varieties. Making a great cup of oolong tea means using the right amount of tea leaves for brewing. We recommend using 1 teaspoon of balled leaves or 2 tablespoons of loose leaf oolong for every 6 ounces of water. Four our metric readers, use 2 grams of tea for every 6 to 8 ounces of water. It's important to use high quality water to achieve the proper flavors and aromas.
Avoid distilled water since it can taste flat and doesn't develop tea flavors well. Tap water should also be avoided since water treatment chemicals such as chlorine can affect taste.
Instead, use filtered water or spring water for the best results whenever possible. To develop the best flavor profile of oolong tea, it's best to use hot water that is just shy of boiling.
Aim to heat your water to or F for brewing. You can use a thermometer for the most accurate temperature control or simply allow boiling water to cool for a minute before adding to your clay teapot or vessel. Once water reaches the proper temperature, fill your gaiwan or yixing cup about halfway, swirl and then discard the water.
This initial water is used to cleanse the leaves and open them up for flavor release. Yes, there is caffeine in oolong tea, about half the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Generally, no. You should be drinking the tea without any milk or sugar so you want to go with the better quality tea. Loose tea is better than tea sachets which is better than tea bags. Loose tea is sold in ounces or grams and the minimum is usually 2 or 4 ounces.
Hi Jim, the rinsing does two things. This post may contain affiliate links. What does oolong tea taste like? Is there caffeine? Can I add milk and sugar? Is there a difference between loose tea, tea sachets, and tea bags? Where can I buy it? How do you buy loose tea? Author: Jee Choe. Step by step brewing instructions on how to make oolong tea. Prep Time 3 mins. Steep Time 1 min.
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