Beginner Guide | Choosing The Right Tea Equipment
That’s like one of the 101 questions we always encounter with. What tea equipment one should get for brewing a better cup of tea. Or at least what basic equipment would be great for a beginner.
For us, the brewing equipment could be as simple as a cup, if you are making teabag. And to be honest, the quality of the teabag is not any worse than the loose leaf with the improvement of packaging. The pyramid-shaped tea bags allow the tea with bigger leaves to expand and have all the flavors fully infused in the water easily.
While the shape, material, and size could affect a lot on our drinking experience. Most of the time we would prefer materials that are smooth and heat-proof. The size shouldn’t be too big (over 12oz) that you may risk having the cup sitting on your desk for too long. Glass or Ceramic is usually preferred. Plastic is not only bad for the environment, but also the flavor.
But what about loose leaf? Do you need to have a set of tea equipment for the brewing?
Well, yes and no. Tea equipment is both a functional tool but also it could be an artwork for appreciation, especially in the Chinese tea ceremony. But for a beginner, let’s stick with the basics.
Tea Pot is almost the only equipment you need to get started on everything. The Key is almost the same as choosing the right cup in the previous paragraphs. Material and size. We always prefer materials that do not easily get heat lost in a short period of time, Glass and Ceramic are always good choices.
*If you are the one who loves brewing herbal/floral teas, we would recommend glassware for aesthetic purposes.
As for the size, most of the teapots have remarked its recommended portion like for 1-3 people or more. But if you are not a sharing type of person and your teapot doesn’t have the remark, 300ml - 400ml would be quite a suitable size for you.
Last but not least, always check for the filter in the pot. We love drink tea, but not so much about ‘eating’ the tea leaves.