Tea & Teaware Guides
A Simple Gongfu Tea Session: Plan, Brew and Adjust
A beginner gongfu tea session can be a straightforward way to explore one tea through several small infusions. You do not need a large collection of equipment. A brewing vessel, cups, suitable water, a kettle and a safe place to pour are enough to begin.
Start with the tea seller’s instructions for that specific tea. Leaf quantity, temperature and timing should match the leaf and vessel, rather than a universal recipe copied from another session.
Prepare a small, workable setup
Place the vessel and cups on a stable surface. Keep your pouring area clear, and have somewhere to collect discarded water. If you use a sharing pitcher, check that it can hold the whole infusion. Arrange the kettle so you do not need to reach across the teaware.
Practise handling the vessel with cool water first. With a gaiwan, you need to control the gap between lid and bowl. With a teapot, check your grip, the lid’s stability and the way the spout directs the stream.
Run the first infusion as a baseline
- Measure the leaves and note the amount.
- Warm the vessel gently if appropriate for its care instructions, then empty it.
- Add the leaves and water at the recommended temperature.
- Time the infusion, including your normal pouring routine.
- Drain into the cups or sharing pitcher and taste.
TeaVivre’s gaiwan guide uses a warming, leaf-loading, infusion and pouring sequence. Its brewing-mistakes guide also stresses measuring leaves and avoiding overfilling. Rinsing the leaves is a separate choice: follow guidance for the tea rather than treating a rinse as mandatory for every variety.
Change one thing at a time
If the tea feels too strong, try a shorter infusion on the next comparable round. If it is too weak, try a longer infusion. Keep the leaf amount and water temperature steady while learning what that timing change does. Later infusions may need their own adjustments as the leaves develop.
| Record | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Leaf weight and water volume | Makes the session easier to repeat |
| Temperature and steeping time | Shows what changed between attempts |
| A short tasting note | Connects the brewing choice to your preference |
Finish with an easy cleanup
Remove the leaves and clean the equipment according to its material and the maker’s instructions. A session that is easy to finish is easier to repeat tomorrow.
Explore the Jian Ru Jia Jing teapot as a shape example, or browse the teaware knowledge library before choosing a brewing setup. Product appearance alone does not determine the right leaf quantity or temperature.
Related guides
- What Size Teapot Do You Need? A Guide to Usable Capacity
- How to Use a Ceramic Infuser Mug at Your Desk
Sources and further reading
Product photography supplied for Sandao. The illustrated pieces are contemporary examples; historical references do not authenticate them. Sources consulted 3 October 2026.