Essential Guide for Tea Brewing

There is a ton of options on the market for tea brewing equipment,  below I have a review of my affordable tea brewing equipment that I use.

Leaf teas are generally best brewed in a pot, where the leaves can flow freely. Black teas have a limited extraction time, which recommends that the tea is poured into a heated pot beyond the infusion. Alternatively, you can buy a large tea strainer, where the leaves have most room, which can be removed beyond the infusion.

Basic Tea Brewing Equipment

Two years ago, when I first became interested in tea, I found getting the right equipment for a good price to be difficult, now I have a number of low cost and beautiful pieces that I would recommend.

Ceramic Cup with Tea Infuser and Lid

This is by far my favorite and easiest way to brew tea. This KATI Lotus Single Cup by Tea Forté is super pretty! This cup is only $20.00 with free shipping, which makes it an affordable all-in-one solution to get started with.

A Kettle

Most kettles will do the job perfectly, but if you wish to go that step further, you may want to invest in a kettle with temperature control. Some teas require more precise temperaturs, so be careful when brewing not to kill your tea with water that is too hot.

Advanced Equipment for the More Exact Brews

The deeper you get into tea, particularly East Asian styles, the more you see a trend toward smaller brewing vessels filled with more leaves. The tea brews for less time than in larger Western teapots, then gets re-brewed anywhere from once to a couple dozen times.

You can brew this way simply by filling your basket infuser with more leaves and using it for shorter steepings, but there are also some key Asian tools designed for this sort of thing. The following pieces are beautiful and cost effect solutions on the market with top reviews!

Gaiwan

This classic Chinese brewing vessel is called a gaiwan, and it’s nothing more than a cup with a lid that you fill with leaves and brew in, then decant, using the lid as a strainer. This Porcelain Gaiwan Teacup Mug Tea Brewing Cup With Lid And Saucer is a steal coming in at only $11.55.

Kyusu

If you want to brew larger servings of tea in one go, or if you’re a really big fan of delicate Japanese green teas, you may prefer a Japanese-style kyusu teapot. These pots typically run a more ample 200 to 300 milliliters (about 7 to 10 ounces), and they come with a built-in filter to strain out tiny leaves.

A Gram Scale

You can easily just go by how much looks right, or use teaspoons and other measuring materials. Nonetheless a gram scale is a great kitchen appliance for tea, spices, herbs and more. This is a fool proof way to get the perfect ratio, especially helpful for tea combinations, but not a necessity.

Clay Teapots

clay can directly interact with the tea while brewing. A good Yixing pot can subtly improve the depth, flavor, body, or sweet aftertaste of a tea, and some tea fanatics won’t brew with anything else. Since the tea works its way into the porous clay, you typically pair a pot with a single style of tea, and over time that tea will form a distinct patina on the pot’s interior. This beautiful tea set comes in at $19.99, which is really inexpensive for a whole set of clay tea pot and cups.

Yixing pots

This pot will smooth out the rough notes in some teas, making them more rich, mellow, and harmonized. They’re typically used with darker teas rather than greens or whites; think dark oolongs, black tea, and pu-erh. These beautiful pieces of pottery have a strong history and aesthetic.

Matcha Tea set 

There are not many brands that do quality tea sets like this one for affordable prices, matcha being such a premium product. I was very happy with my set!