Tea preperation

Here is a quick guide of how to prepare Oolong tea:

1. Bring water to boil and keep it boiling. Bottled spring water is much preferred than tap water.
2. Use a small teapot (we use a 200 ml or 7 oz teapot as a reference here).
3. Apply hot water inside and over the teapot to warm it up. Discard all water. This is to bring up the temperature of the teapot. So, the heat of the brewing hot water is for brew.
4. Put 1/2 oz or so (about 3 teaspoon) of Oolong into the teapot (how much Oolong to use is based on personal preference). It could take approximately vary from 10% to 20% of space in the teapot. The more tea leaves used the more flavors the tea has and its required brewing time for each infusion is less. However, too much tea leaves used could increase the bitter taste and the teapot would not have enough room for the tea leaves to fully expand themselves.)
5. Add boiling water and discard this pre-brew water right-a-way. This is to wash away the fine tealeaves hairs and bring the tealeaves to brewing temperature.
6. Top off the teapot with hot water to brew. First brew should be about 50 seconds. Pour brewed tea to a water pitcher or something similar for transfer to tea cups for drinking. First brew is the best for you to experience the aroma.
7. Enjoy the tea while it is hot smell the aroma of the cover. Observe the color of the liquor and then sip.

The best tea is from second and third brews. Second brew should be 60 seconds. Third brew should be about 75 seconds. The brewing time should gradually increase by 15 second interval to 120 seconds for the sixth brew. Much longer brewing time is required for the 7th and 8th (3 minutes) brew, if the 7th or 8th brews are not too light to drink.


links:
http://www.istea.com.tw/new/tea/skill/tea_index2.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMnhhD76QDU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvKoqEr7tog&feature=related