Pleasure of Brewing

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The charm of Taitung Red Oolong tea lies in its versatility: from the very same leaves, hot brewing draws out roasted layers and a full-bodied depth, while cold brewing highlights honeyed and fruity sweetness, yielding a clean, lingering finish. Whether you're savoring it by itself, pairing with food, or hydrating throughout the day, each method has its strengths. Below are four approachable brewing styles and when to use them, with parameters designed for consistency and beginner-friendly success.

Which way to go today?

  • Cold Brew For refreshing, sweet, and portable
  • Teapot Brew For depth, roasted layers, and hosting guests
  • Gaiwan Brew For precision and side-by-side tasting
  • Bowl Brew For simplicity, minimal fuss, office-friendly
A photo displaying two bottles of cold-brewed Red Oolong tea.

Cold Brew

 

Best occasions｜Summer hydration, post-workout or commute water bottle, picnics/hikes, cocktail base

Flavor highlights｜Low in caffeine, naturally sweet, with pronounced honeyed and ripe fruit notes, finishing refreshingly light

Advantages｜Prepare once, sip throughout the day; naturally sweet without added sugar

What you need｜

  • Water: Room-temperature water → refrigerate after adding
  • Ratio: 1g tea leaves to 100 ml water
  • Time: Steep in refrigerator for 12 hours

Method｜Rinse container until odor-free → add tea leaves → pour in water → gently swirl to mix → refrigerate 8–12 hours

Note｜Best consumed within 24 hours

Teapot Brew

 

Best occasions｜Social gathering, food pairing, when seeking a rounded, full-bodied taste and aroma

Flavor highlights｜A balance of thickness and sweetness, with wood, roast, and fragrance layered more distinctly

Advantages｜Flexible capacity, excellent heat retention, ideal for sharing among several people

What you need｜

  • Water temperature: 100℃
  • Water volume: 150 ml
  • Tea amount: 3g
  • Time: steep for 3–4 minutes (refillable)

Method｜Warm the teapot with hot water → add tea leaves → pour in hot water for infusion → pout the tea into cups

Refills｜Repeat the same steps or adjust steeping time by ±30 seconds to taste

Note｜Thicker-walled teapots retain heat better for a smoother brew; thinner-walled teapots release fragrance more quickly

Tea being poured out from a teapot in to a tea cup.
Tea leaves being brewed in a transparent gaiwan.

Gaiwan Brew

 

Best occasions｜Solo tasting, blind testing, batch or roast comparison

Flavor highlight｜Direct aroma release, clear layered notes

Advantages｜Visual control, quick cleanup, closest to formal tasting method

What you need｜

  • Water temperature: 100℃
  • Water volume: 150 ml
  • Tea amount: 3g
  • Time: steep for 4–5 minutes (refillable)

Method｜Warm the bowl with hot water → add tea leaves → pour in hot water for infusion

Note｜Pour efficiently to avoid over-extraction and bitterness

Bowl Brew

 

Best occasions｜When only having simple utensils, observing tea color and changes

Flavor highlights｜Stable sweetness, smooth mouthfeel

Advantages｜Zero barriers, minimal equipment, brew anytime

What you need｜

  • Water temperature: 100℃
  • Water volume: 150 ml
  • Tea amount: 3g
  • Time: steep for 5–6 minutes (refillable)

Method｜Add tea leaves → pour in hot water → steep for the prescribed time → take the tea leaves out from the bowl

Note｜For a lighter taste, scoop a sample at 3–4 minutes to experience flavor layers at different steeping points. Red Oolong brewed in a bowl rarely turns bitter, but longer steeping intensifies the brew; additional hot water can be added as needed.

Red Oolong tea leaves being brewed in two bowls.
Hands holding a red mug.

Mug Brew

 

Best occasions｜Office, classroom, travel; when only a mug is available, without teapot or gaiwan

Flavor highlights｜Stable sweetness, round and straightforward body; less complex than pot brew, but convenient and easy to drink

Advantages｜Lowest equipment requirement, sufficient volume for slow sipping; easy way to carry the honeyed sweetness of Red Oolong tea anywhere

What you need｜

Infuser / Tea Ball (recommended for beginners)

  • Water temperature: 100℃
  • Water volume: 300–350 ml (depending on mug size)
  • Tea amount: 3g
  • Time: steep for 4–5 minutes (remove leaves; re-steep once)

"Grandpa Style" (no infuser needed)

  • Water temperature: 100℃
  • Water volume: 300–350 ml (depending on mug size)
  • Tea amount: 2g (reduced to avoid bitterness from long steeping)
  • Time: first steep ~2 minutes; then sip gradually and top up with hot water whenever 1/3 is finished; repeat 2–3 times

Method｜Preheat mug (fill with hot water for 10–20 sec, then discard) → add tea leaves → pour boiling water → cover with lid/small plate → steep until ready → remove leaves (if using infuser) → smell aroma before tasting

Note｜

  • For lighter brew: shorten by 30 sec or reduce to 2.5g
  • For stronger brew: extend 30–45 sec or increase to 4g (infuser version)
  • Cleaner taste: use paper filter, fine mesh, or double infuser to reduce tea dust
  • Quick iced mug tea: brew 5g leaves with 100–120 ml boiling water for 2 min → remove leaves → add ice and cold water up to 300–350 ml → instant refreshing iced Red Oolong

 

General Tips (Applicable to All Brewing Methods)

 

  • Water and container｜Soft or filtered water enhances sweetness; containers must be clean and odor-free
  • Timing｜Brew/serve at the designated time; pour all tea out to avoid over-steeping; for stronger or lighter flavor, adjust steeping time before adjusting tea leaves amount
  • Storage Cold brew｜refrigerate and consume promptly; hot brew: avoid long-term heat to prevent flavor loss

 

Quick comparison of different roasts or brands: Start with gaiwan brew to establish a baseline, then brew your favorite brands with teapot brew or cold brew to experience different aspects of the same Red Oolong tea.