How to Brew Lapsang Souchong: Temperature, Ratio and Time

For a first mug, try 2–3 g of Lapsang Souchong in 250 ml of water at 90–95°C (194–203°F), steeped for 2–3 minutes. For a gaiwan, try 4–5 g per 100 ml with quick infusions. These are starting points, not tests of authenticity.

Choose a neutral vessel and fresh water

Porcelain and heat-safe glass make it easy to compare aromas. Use fresh drinking water with a taste you like; heavily flavored or highly mineral water can obscure a delicate tea. Preheat the vessel and discard that warming water.

Weigh the leaves before judging the tea

Different leaf shapes occupy different volumes. A teaspoon of fine tea and a teaspoon of bulky whole leaves may weigh very different amounts. A small scale makes your next cup easier to reproduce.

Gaiwan brewing, step by step

Add 4–5 g to a gaiwan with about 100 ml working capacity. Pour 90–95°C water and begin with roughly 5–10 seconds of contact before draining completely. Repeat, extending the time gradually as flavor fades. More leaf, broken material or a slower pour may require a shorter steep.

For a robust smoked tea you can also test near-boiling water. For a delicate unsmoked batch, reduce the temperature if it improves your cup. Boiling water does not automatically destroy a black tea, while a lower temperature recommendation does not prove adulteration. A rinse is optional for loose black tea; it is not a reliable way to remove caffeine or contaminants.

Mug or small teapot method

Use 2–3 g per 250 ml, taste after 2 minutes, then strain fully when the cup suits you. Increase time or leaf a little for a stronger brew. If bitterness builds, shorten the steep before assuming that the tea itself is faulty.

How many infusions?

There is no guaranteed count. Leaf dose, vessel size, steep length and personal preference decide when a session is finished. Several quick gongfu infusions and two long mug infusions are not directly comparable. Stop when the flavor no longer appeals, rather than chasing a number on a product page.