Experience Authentic Chinese Tea - A Journey of Mindfulness and Tradition
A guide to Chinese tea: what to try and how to brew it
Chinese tea covers six categories — green, white, yellow, oolong, black, and dark (pu-erh) — all made from the same plant but processed differently. If you're looking at our Chinese tea collection and not sure where to start, this guide walks through what each type tastes like, where it comes from, and how to brew it.
Our founder Joanne trained at Lian Yu Tea School in Beijing starting in 2014, and we source our teas directly from the regions where they're made. That connection to the producers means we can tell you exactly where each tea comes from and how it was processed.
Where do our Chinese teas come from?
China's tea regions are as varied as wine regions. The same tea plant grown in different soil and climate produces noticeably different results.
Yunnan Province — Ancient tea forests with trees hundreds of years old. This is where our pu-erh teas come from, including the leaves for Raw Pu-erh Ancient Single Tree and Yunnan Black Tea (Dian Hong). Both are from the Xigui area, known for bright citrus notes unusual in pu-erh.
Fujian Province — The most diverse tea region in China. Home to our white teas from Fuding (Silver Needles, Aged White Tea 2012), rock oolongs from Wuyi Mountain (Big Red Robe), and smoked black tea (Lapsang Souchong).
Zhejiang Province — Where Dragon Well (Longjing) comes from. Flat, sword-shaped leaves pan-fried by hand, with a chestnut sweetness and clean finish.
Guangdong Province — Specifically Xinhui, where our Aged Mandarin Peel (Chen Pi) is sourced. Nine years of ageing has given these peels a rich, sweet character.
Anhui Province — The organic Maofeng green tea base for our Osmanthus Green Tea comes from here.
How do you brew Chinese tea?
There are two main approaches, and both work well:
Western-style brewing
Use 2-3g of tea in a 200-300ml teapot or mug. Steep for the times listed below. This is the simpler method — one or two good cups per brewing. Our glass teapot with infuser works well for this.
Gongfu-style brewing
Use 5-8g of tea in a small vessel (100-150ml) — a gaiwan or small teapot. Steep for 10-30 seconds, then pour. Repeat for 5-15 steeps. Each steep tastes different, which is the main reason people brew this way. It works particularly well with oolong and pu-erh.
Quick temperature guide
White tea: 85-90°C. Green tea: 80°C. Oolong: 90-95°C. Black tea: 90-95°C. Pu-erh: 95-100°C (boiling is fine). Every tea in our collection includes specific brewing instructions.
What to try first
Starting from what you already like is usually the easiest approach:
If you drink English Breakfast or Earl Grey → try Yunnan Black Tea or Lapsang Souchong. Same family, more character.
If you prefer lighter flavours → Jasmine Dragon Pearls (from $8). The jasmine scent makes it immediately approachable.
If you like floral or complex → Alishan Oolong. Buttery, floral, shifts across multiple steeps.
If you're curious about something unusual → Tasmanian Lavender Puerh (from $7). Earthy Menghai ripe pu-erh meets Tasmanian lavender. Awarded at the 2025 Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards.
Want to try several? Our Special Tea Box ($49) comes with three teas — choose the Best Selling set (Chinese classics) or the Tasmanian Special set (local blends). Or grab individual samples from $5.
A note from Joanne
The thing I always tell people at our Tea Bar is: you don't need to know all six categories to enjoy Chinese tea. Pick one tea that sounds good, brew it at roughly the right temperature, and drink it. The knowledge builds naturally from there.
If you're in Hobart, come to our Tea Bar at Salamanca Art Centre — I can brew a few options for you and we'll find what suits your taste. We also run tea workshops for people who want to go deeper into Gongfu brewing.
Common questions about Chinese tea
What makes Chinese tea different from other teas?
China is where tea originated, and the processing methods have been refined over thousands of years. The main difference is variety — Chinese tea covers all six categories (green, white, yellow, oolong, black, dark), whereas most other countries specialise in one or two. China's diverse geography also means huge flavour variation even within the same category.
Where can I buy authentic Chinese tea in Australia?
A Moment of Tea is a specialty Chinese tea shop based at 77 Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania. We source directly from Chinese tea regions and carry over 100 varieties. You can visit our Tea Bar, find us at Salamanca Market on Saturdays, or shop online at amomentoftea.com.au with delivery across Australia.
Do I need a gaiwan to drink Chinese tea?
No. Any mug or teapot works. Gongfu brewing with a gaiwan gives you more detail and more steeps from the same leaves, but Western-style brewing in a regular teapot is fine. Start with what's comfortable and add tools later if you want to.
Is Chinese tea safe — are there pesticide concerns?
We select teas from producers who use traditional growing methods. Several of our teas, including the Yunnan teas from Xigui, come from old-growth trees that have never been sprayed. We can tell you the specific origin and growing conditions for any tea in our collection.
Last updated: April 2026