Getting started with Chinese tea: what to buy

You do not need a complete tea service to try Chinese tea. A mug, a removable infuser and a way to heat water are enough to begin. For short infusions, a small gaiwan or teapot is useful. Choose the method that fits your day.

A gaiwan, serving pitcher and cups on a tea tray.
Photo: Il lupa · CC BY-SA 4.0

Choose one brewing method

For a mug, use a roomy infuser basket that lifts out: the leaves can expand and the drink stops getting stronger once you remove them. If you already have a teapot with a filter, use it and drain the finished infusion fully. For gongfu brewing alone or with another person, consider a glazed porcelain gaiwan of 100–150 ml or a small teapot with a comfortable handle. You do not need both.

Check that the teaware is comfortable

Choose teaware made for hot drinks, with no cracks or chips. You should be able to hold a gaiwan securely, keep its lid steady and pour smoothly. Practise with cool water first. A flared rim can help your grip, though it still gets hot; leave space below it when filling. The stated capacity is often measured to the brim, so you will use less water in practice. A serving pitcher is useful when sharing. On your own, pour directly into a cup large enough for the whole infusion.

Add useful accessories as needed

Scales displaying 0.1 g increments make it easier to repeat a recipe, though the display does not guarantee accuracy to 0.1 g. Use your phone as a timer. A temperature-controlled kettle is convenient; an ordinary kettle and a food thermometer work too. Cooling speed depends on the water volume and vessel, so waiting three minutes will not reliably give you 80 °C water. Add a strainer for small leaf fragments and keep a tray and cloth nearby for drips.

Try two or three teas

Start with 15–25 g samples. Try Dian Hong for Chinese black tea or Bai Mudan for white tea. Lightly roasted Tieguanyin and roasted Dong Ding offer different oolong flavours to explore. Check the actual roast in the description. If you like dark, woody flavours, try ripe pu-erh; for freshness and astringency, try young raw pu-erh. There is no mandatory first tea. All these types contain caffeine, so ripe pu-erh is not automatically an evening drink.

Questions and answers

Do I need a Yixing pot and a tea tray?

Not to begin. They can be enjoyable and useful, but choose them to suit your habits. You do not need to buy a complete set just to try tea.

How should I budget?

Check what you already own, then add up the missing equipment, a few samples and delivery. After several sessions, you will have a clearer idea of what is worth adding.