The art of making the perfect cup of tea is one of the most utilised life skills. Knowing how to make tea was not just a practice in ancient times but more of a ritual. Gongfu Brewing was the name of the tea-making ritual, and it was practised in ancient China. As it was practised way before the process of preparing a cup of tea was dictated by its convenience, the Gongfu Brewing method was longer and more complicated. The method respected tea and dedicated time to savour its essence and experience the robust flavours and the sweet aroma. The flavorful and aromatic experience of Gongfu Brewing was practised to free the mind of all the stress and the worries that weighed on their hearts and achieve a state of peace and tranquillity.

In modern times, our needs are led by convenience, and ancient ritualistic processes such as Gongfu Brewing may not be ideal for daily practice due to the fast-paced lives we have. However, we can still master how to make tea by following a more timely process.

Step 1

Draw some fresh water and boil until it reaches the appropriate temperature. If you are making the perfect cup of tea using a teapot, pour a bit of water into the teapot, swirl it around until the vessel is warmer and throw the water away.

Step 2

Pick between loose leaf tea or tea bags. Whatever you select, if you follow the below steps, you will surely end up with a hot cup of fresh tea that tastes divine and smells extraordinary.

Step 3

If you are using loose leaf tea, place a strainer on your mug and pour the freshly boiled water over it. If you are preparing tea with a teapot, add the loose leaf tea into the pot.

Step 4

Wait until the tea is brewed.

Step 5

Enjoy. If you prefer, a splash of milk or a spoonful of sugar would improve the flavours and add sweetness to the tea.

If you are making iced tea or another tea-infused beverage, the recipe may vary, and in such situations, instructions should be followed as stated in those recipes.