When determining how much tea to use for Chinese tea, it is not just the "number of grams" you need to know first. The reference amount changes depending on the type of tea leaf, the amount of water, the vessel, and the brewing method. You should interpret numerical values together with the information on which tea leaf they are for, which vessel they are intended for, and how they are to be brewed. For practical guidance on portioning different leaf shapes by volume and using dedicated utensils, see our loose-leaf tea tools guide.
Check the amount after deciding on the tea type and vessel
The instructions for brewing Tieguanyin introduced by the Anxi County People's Government suggest 5 to 7g as an example of the amount of tea to use when using a gaiwan. Even within the same guide, it is noted that this should be adjusted based on the size of the tea ware and personal preference.
In addition, the consumer guide for brick tea from the Hunan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation provides an example of the direct brewing method that combines the tea-to-water ratio, water temperature, and steeping time. This is a conditional guide specifically for brick tea and should not be applied directly to other tea types or vessels.
The order of verification
- Check the type and shape of the tea leaves.
- Check the capacity of the vessel you will use and the brewing method.
- Read the guidance provided by the tea producer or seller, or conditional examples with cited sources.
- Check the actual amount with a scale if necessary.
The amount of tea to use depends not only on your preference for strength but also on the vessel and extraction conditions. It is important not to treat a single numerical value as the standard for all Chinese teas.
A tea scoop is not a measuring instrument
SEKIMONO tea scoops (chasoku) are intended as tools for portioning tea leaves and transferring them into a teapot or gaiwan. For example, the Gold & Jade Tea Scoop and Golden Toad | Copper Tea Scoop show their external dimensions, but their capacity in terms of how many grams of tea leaves they can measure is not specified.
The flow for transferring tea leaves to a vessel after verifying the amount is introduced in How to use a tea scoop to transfer tea leaves to a teapot. If you would like to compare the shapes and dimensions of our tea scoops, please see Tea scoop size comparison: Length and width of 7 SEKIMONO pieces.
