In the art of tea brewing, known as “Gong Fu Cha” in Chinese, there are four parameters to consider: the quality of your loose tea, the water temperature, the amount of tea used, and the steeping time. Each of these variables can make or break your tea. There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a beautiful tea and not getting the best flavor out of it.

To brew a truly excellent tea, you need to make a few investments besides purchasing high-quality tea. These investments don’t have to cost a lot of money but can make a world of difference. For example, a kettle that can heat water to the correct temperature is essential. Water that is too hot can make your tea taste bitter, and water that has been boiled and then cooled loses some of its aroma.

Another valuable investment is a timer. It’s best to place a timer near your kettle, possibly with a scale, so you have all your tools at hand to brew the best tea. There are different types of timers available. A digital timer is very convenient as it allows you to set any desired steeping time. However, many people also opt for a sand timer. It’s a charming way to keep track of your timing. You can even place these sand timers next to your guests’ cups, for example, to engage them in the tea-making process. More and more fine dining restaurants and other hospitality establishments use this approach.

How long you should steep your tea depends on how many grams of loose tea you use. In the classic Western method, 12 grams of loose tea are used per liter, and the tea is steeped for 2 minutes. In the East, smaller teapots are often used, such as Yixing pots, which may only hold 100 or 150 ml. However, they still use about 6 grams of tea for such a pot, resulting in much shorter steeping times. In traditional tea ceremonies, the tea is steeped multiple times, with steeping times ranging from 3 seconds to 1 minute. Often, the first infusion is steeped for 45 seconds, followed by 30 seconds, and then 1 minute.

At Thee.be, we strive to offer a variety of timers so that everyone can find the one that suits their needs.