Beginner30–45 minutes per session

Gongfu Tea: Measure, Brew and Compare

Start a gongfu session with measured leaf and water, controlled pouring, a brew log and practical adjustments for the next infusion.

tea enthusiastsgongfu beginners

Workflow

Choose a Comfortable Setup
Set out a food-use gaiwan or small teapot, receiving pitcher, cups, scale and timer. Practice the pour with cool water over a tray. Use a handled vessel if the gaiwan grip is uncomfortable.
Measure Leaf and Added Water
Copy the supplier recipe with its leaf mass, water volume and brewing method. Measure the actual water added at your chosen fill line. For an illustrative 5 g in 100 mL, record 5 g per 100 mL; this example is not a universal dose.
Choose and Measure Water Temperature
Use the tea supplier temperature as a starting point and record where you measure it: kettle or brewing vessel. Warm the vessel only if your chosen method calls for it, then discard that warming water before measuring the brew water.
Time and Decant the Infusion
Start your timer at the same point each time, pour steadily, then decant into the pitcher at the chosen time. Record the drain time if it is appreciable. Follow the supplier instructions for whether to rinse; a rinse is not a safety treatment.
Compare and Choose the Next Change
Taste after the tea has cooled enough to sip comfortably. Record aroma, taste, texture and finish with the infusion number. Change one variable for the next trial, such as steep time, and retain the previous recipe for comparison.

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A Repeatable Brew RecordTable

This worksheet is an organizational aid. Tea Drunk illustrates a gaiwan method; adapt handling to your vessel and follow the tea-specific recipe.

Record	What to write
Tea	Name, producer and lot if known
Dose	Dry leaf g and added water mL
Heat and time	Temperature location, steep and drain time
Result	Infusion number, taste and next change

Leaf-to-Water ArithmeticTable

Keep leaf mass and water volume explicit. These calculations describe a chosen recipe, not extraction strength or caffeine.

Quantity	Calculation	Example
Dose per 100 mL	100 × leaf g ÷ water mL	5 g / 100 mL → 5 g per 100 mL
Scaled leaf mass	Original leaf g × new water mL ÷ original water mL	5 × 150 ÷ 100 = 7.5 g

Keep a Useful Record
Stop when you no longer enjoy the infusions; there is no required count.
Start with the Actual Product
Place the receiving vessel before lifting the brewer.