This article details the art of making a cup of green tea using leaves, not sachets. In fact, he will show you the traditional Chinese methods. Buy some tea, a teapot and some cups, you won't need anything else.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use A Few Leaves
Step 1. Put a handful of tea leaves in the teapot
Step 2. Add warm water
Leave them to infuse for a minute.
Step 3. Wait for a few more minutes and then serve it
Method 2 of 2: Use Many Leaves
Step 1. Put lots of tea leaves in the teapot
Step 2. Add water that is almost boiling point
Leave to infuse for a minute and then pour the liquid into a pitcher to remove the leaves from the teapot.
Step 3. Pour the tea back into the teapot and add more water
Step 4. Wait for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, then serve it
Step 5. Finished
Advice
- Arranging the spout of the teapot in front of someone can be considered disrespectful during a formal tea ceremony, but the Chinese don't usually dwell on good manners in a casual place.
- During a formal tea ceremony, everyone plays a specific role. The landlord has the task of serving the drink to everyone, so not everyone can do it. Either way, in a restaurant, you can pour someone tea after that person has served it to you.
- Boiling water is too hot for green tea leaves, which are brittle. Pouring it will immediately release tannins, resulting in a bitter-tasting infusion.
- When someone pours you tea, tap the table with two fingers and say thanks. If he is an older person than you, you should pretend that you feel slightly "guilty" because you don't deserve his courtesy. This "drama" must be repeated every time someone serves you tea.
- In any context, before pouring the tea into your cup, always look around to see who is left without, and serve it to these people first. It is considered selfish, rude, or socially inappropriate to serve tea only to oneself.
- If you are tasting real Chinese tea, especially premium quality tea, sweetening it would be like mixing Sprite with Château Mouton Rothschild red wine. The Chinese often find funny or mock those who do it. You can add sugar or honey, maybe even ice, but the tea will no longer be traditionally Chinese.
- In Chinese culture, pouring tea for someone else can have many meanings. When a guest is received, tea is served to welcome him. When a couple gets married, they kneel on the floor and offer their parents tea to express gratitude. When one apologizes in a private place, the person who does so bends his back and pours tea to the one who accepts the apology. Consequently, whenever someone older than you serves you tea, it is considered particularly disrespectful.
Warnings
- If you are going to buy loose tea leaves, be sure to examine them before putting them in the teapot. Rarely, but it happens, other elements are found inside them, such as traces of twigs, aluminum (depending on the packaging used) or insects, accidentally ended up in the tea.
- It helps to know the scent of a specific tea before buying it. If you have to buy it often, you can check in the shop if it has gone bad before you buy it.
- Pay attention to old and expired tea. Check it well. Smell it. Observe it and notice any dry leaves. Taste a small piece of it (do not do this if it has been wet and has remained in a container for a long time or the aroma seems completely different from the original one); if it smells sweet, it has gone bad.
