Please see "At a Glance" in “More Details” on your chosen tea for the appropriate amount of dry leaf to add, water temperature and infusion time.

Humble Beginnings in China

Tea originally was a picnic - an enjoyable outdoor get-together in the Chinese countryside. Over a fire, a pot of
 water collected from a nearby spring or waterfall would boil and tea was made for everyone to enjoy.

Eventually the Imperial Court adopted the custom of drinking tea and so it became a much more formal process. It was drunk in ornamental gardens and small, specially made buildings were commissioned and dedicated to serving tea to family and amongst friends.

This custom spread to the cities and men would frequent pavilions where tea was served and
 conversation would turn to business or politics. Tea became associated with relaxation and social events.

From the humble pot over a fire and tea bowl for both making and sipping tea came many inventions which developed and refined tea drinking. For example; the tea-bowl adopted a saucer to catch drips and a lid for keeping it warm and stirring the tea, this became the Gaiwan. Many of the special traditions, equipment and implements remain today.

Simple Tea Garden