Many who are new to tea often ask the same question when brewing: “How much tea should I use?” While experience will naturally provide clarity, we'll still address this fundamental concern about tea quantity.

I. Brewing by Ratio

The commonly used ratio for tea brewing is 1:50, meaning 1 gram of tea leaves with 50 milliliters of water (except for Oolong and compressed teas, which use a ratio closer to 1:30). This allows you to estimate how much dry tea you need – for example, if your teapot holds 400 milliliters of water, around 8 grams of tea would be appropriate.

However, it can be difficult for new tea drinkers to estimate volumes and weights without specific guidance. In such cases, consider using volume-based methods to determine tea quantity. Let's delve into this using a common brewing tool, the gaiwan.

II. Brewing by Volume

Green Tea and Yellow Tea

In general, green and yellow teas are considered the most delicate among all tea types, and after rolling, their infusions come out quickly. When brewing in a gaiwan, use enough tea to just cover the bottom of the vessel.

There are two points to remember: do not cover the gaiwan as it may spoil the tea; and too hot water can damage the leaves, making the tea bitter and astringent. However, the water cannot be too cool either, as it won't fully release the aroma. Typically, water at 90–95°C is used, with slight adjustments based on personal preference.

Black Tea

Small-Leaf Black Tea: Qimen Black Tea

Large-Leaf Black Tea: Yunnan Black Tea

The amount of black tea is similar to green tea, covering the bottom of the gaiwan but slightly more than green tea. Black tea comes in small-leaf varieties like Qimen and Sichuan, and large-leaf varieties like Yunnan. Large-leaf black teas have larger leaves, taking up more space, so they require more tea. For those who often drink foreign black teas, such as broken black teas, the tea quantity should be reduced by nearly half due to their quick infusion rate and less concern for durability.

Oolong Tea

While there are many types and categories of oolong tea, they can generally be divided into strip oolongs and ball oolongs. The tea quantity for strip oolongs is roughly one-fifth to one-third of the gaiwan's capacity, while ball oolongs should just cover the bottom. Ball oolongs have a unique shape that unfolds slowly, so an initial rinse is often used to open the leaves. Hot water strongly releases the aroma and flavor of these semi-fermented teas, especially high-mountain oolongs, which must be brewed with boiling water. Using tepid water is akin to wasting the tea, so keep that in mind.

Compressed Tea

The tea quantity for compressed teas is roughly one-fifth of the gaiwan's capacity. Some compressed teas are tightly packed, so the quantity can be adjusted accordingly. During brewing, an initial rinse is also common to loosen the leaves. There is a saying that compressed teas younger than three years should be brewed uncovered, while those older than three years can be covered. This is because younger compressed teas have lower fermentation levels, and covering them can spoil the tea like it does for green tea, whereas older compressed teas have undergone further fermentation and don't have this issue.

White Tea

Since white tea is not rolled, merely withered and dried after fresh leaf picking, the dry leaves tend to be light and fluffy, requiring a larger tea quantity. Loose white tea takes up about three-quarters or half of the gaiwan's capacity, while compressed white tea cakes take up about one-fifth. White tea is relatively easy to brew without spoiling, making it a safe choice for occasions where you want to impress others.

III. Tea Quantity for Other Brewing Methods

Besides common brewing methods, there are some unconventional ways to brew tea that also have guidelines for tea quantity.

For example, bowl brewing – since tea is scooped out with a spoon and the process is slower, and the tea leaves remain in the water, even if the bowl is large, do not use too much tea, or the tea will become too strong;

For example, flavored tea – the most common being milk tea, with a tea-to-water ratio of about 1:30. Since milk is added during preparation, the tea can be brewed stronger, allowing for customization according to taste preferences for more milk or more tea;

For example, cold-brewed tea – characterized by cold water immersion for extended periods, sometimes overnight in summer, so the tea quantity doesn't need to be too large. By volume, for all tea types except compressed teas, fill the container (such as a glass bottle) to the bottom. For compressed teas, reduce the quantity to avoid overly strong tea.

Brewing tea is a gradual learning process. With experience, you'll find a more relaxed and personalized approach to drinking tea. After some practice, you'll surely find the perfect tea quantity that suits your taste.