The Bottom Brewing Method:Liu’an Guapian

Pre-brewing Preparation
Prepare the tea set: Kettle, ceramic teapots, tea towel, tea plate, coaster, tea appreciation cup, basin and teaspoon.

Poor the appropriate amount of water into the kettle and bring to boil, let the temperature to drop to 85° before use.

Gently scoop the necessary amount of Liu'an Guapian tea leaves onto the tea plate with the teaspoon.

Brewing
1. Tea set: Arrange the tea set to begin brewing.
2. Warming the ceramic teapots: Remove the teapot lid.
Pour a small amount of heated water into the teapot.
Pour the water from the teapot into the tea appreciation cup.
3. Adding tea leaves: Gently add the Liu’an Guapian tea leaves into the teapot.
4. Pouring water: Directly pour the heated water into the teapot until full, but avoid overflowing. Carefully replace the lid of the teapot and wait for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Warming the cup: Rotate the tea appreciation cup before draining the water into the basin.
6. Distributing tea: Distribute the tea into each tea appreciation cup.
Try to empty the teapot.

Offering tea 
Place the teacup on the saucer before offering the freshly brewed tea to the guests with both hands.

More Green Tea Information
If using a teapot, select the right size. To brew two cups of tea, choose a smaller teapot having a volume of two cups. Or else, it would be necessary to use a fairness cup to ensure that the flavor of the tea is evenly distributed.

Normal-grade green tea uses a mixture of rough and tender tea leaves that are more endurable. Despite their appearance, fragrance and taste, they are of a slightly lower quality than the top-grade green tea. When entertaining guests at home, use a small teapot to brew normal-grade tea leaves at approximately 90°. Be careful of the amount of tea leaves used and the tea brewed should be of an adequate flavor.

The bottom brewing method of brewing tea requires adding the tea leaves before pouring the heated water.

The Middle Brewing Method:West Lake Long Jing

Pre-brewing Preparation
Prepare the tea set: Kettle, tea bowl, tea towel, tea scoop, basin and tea tray.

Pour the appropriate amount water into the kettle and bnng to boil. Let the temperature cool to 80°C before use.

Gently scoop the necessary amount of West Lake Long Jing tea leaves onto the tea scoop with the teaspoon.

Brewing
1. Tea set: Arrange the tea set to begin.
2. Warming the cup: Pour a small amount of heated water into the tea bowl.
Warm the tea bowl.
Warm the lid of the tea bowl.
3. Adding tea leaves: Gently add the West Lake Long Jing tea into the tea bowl.
4. Moisturizing tea leaves: Pour a small amount of the water into the cup, just enough to soak the tea leaves.
Watch the leaves slowly unfurl; it should take about 10 seconds.
5. Brewing:  Pour the water from a height until the cup is about 7/10 full and replace the lid.
Place the lid at an angle to prevent stifling the yellow tea leaves.

Offering tea: Offer the freshly brewed cup of West Lake Long Jing to the guest on a saucer using both hands.

More Green Tea Information
Long Jing tea has a mellow flavor. Sweet but not saccharine, it leaves a fragrant aftertaste. Bland at first, it leaves a lingering ethereal taste.' describes Lu Chiyun of the Qing Dynasty aptly. This describes not only Long Jing tea, but also all types of green tea.

While brewing top-grade green tea, avoid covering the tea bowl immediately after adding water. Place lid at an angle to avoid stifling the yellow tea bud leaves.

Fine and tender top-grade green teas such as flat-shaped, single bud-shaped, straight strips, curly strips, orchid-shaped or pearl-shaped are all suitable for the middle brewing method. First soak the tea leaves. While soaking, gently shake the cup. When the tea leaves have fully unfurled, add water until the cup is seven-tenth full. Alternatively, pour a small amount of water into the cup before adding the tea leaves. When the tea leaves have fully unfurled, add water until the cup is seven-tenth full.

The Top Brewing Method:Bi Luo Chun

Pre-brewing Preparations
Prepare the tea set: Kettle (the hot plate used for boiling water necessity and is not shown in the picture), glass teacup, lea towel plate, teaspoon and basin.

Pour the appropriate amount of water into (he kettle and bring to boil. Let the temperature drop to 80°C before use.

Gently scoop the necessary amount of Bi Luo Chun lea leaves onto the tea plate with the teaspoon.

1. Tea set: Arrange the tea set to begin brewing.
2. Warming the cup: Pour a small amount of heated water. Warm the tea cups.
3. Pouring water: Directly pour the water into the cup until it is 7/10 full.
4. Adding tea leaves: Gently sweep the dry Bi Luo Chun tea leaves into the glass teacup.
5. Admiring the "dance of the tea leaves": The tea buds slowly sink to the bottom cup upon absorbing the water.
As the tea buds sink to the bottom, the liquid turns green. The effect seen through the glass cup, is called 'dance of the tea leaves.
Tea Tips
When warming the glass teacup, first rotate vertically before rotating it levelly. Finally, drain the water into the basin.

Offering tea
Offer the freshly brewed Bi Luo Chun to the guests.

More Green Tea Information
Top-grade green teas such as Bi Luo Chun, Jingshan Tea, Mengting Ganlu, etc. are usually more compact with fine and tender buds. To brew this tea, pour heated water into the cup until it is seven-tenth full. Add tea leaves.

When entertaining guests at home, invite the guests to look at the dry tea leaves before brewing and again look at the wet tea leaves after brewing.

Brewing Tips

Convenience and courtesy are the most important factors when brewing green tea. Therefore, green tea is usually brewed in tea cups.
Because the water temperature requirement for green tea is between 80°C and 90°C, the water dispenser can be used.
Different types of tea sets and different methods of brewing can be used for the same type of tea.

Green Tea Facts

Usually, when brewing tea by  Chinese tea sets, water is added to the tea leaves. However, when brewing green tea, there are three methods of brewing:

High-quality green tea is made from tender and fine tea leaves. It is brewed in water temperature of 80°C. Medium-quality tea leaves are made from a mixture of coarse and tender tea leaves; the temperature can be slightly higher, and it is usually brewed in 90°C.

The amount of the tea used depends on the grade of the tea leaves, the strength of the flavor and the preference of the tea drinker.

Glass teacups are used for admiring the "dance of the tea leaves." They are usually small (volume of approximately 200 ml) with a heavy base.

Basic Green Tea Knowledge

Methods of brewing             The three different methods of brewing
Water temperature              Should be around 80°
The ratio of leaves to water   1:50
Appropriate tea sets           Includes glass or porcelain teacup(teapot)