What is a gongfu tea set, and how do you use it?

Gongfu is not about the tea set. It is about taking time over a cup.

What does gongfu mean?

Gongfu, also written kung fu, means "with skill" or "with effort". Gongfu tea is the Chinese way of brewing tea in a small teapot or gaiwan with plenty of leaves, pouring short steeps into small cups and brewing the same leaves several times. Each round tastes a little different, so the tea unfolds slowly over the session.

What is in a gongfu tea set?

• A small teapot or a gaiwan: the gaiwan is a lidded bowl that brews and pours in one.
• A fairness pitcher: the tea is poured into it first, so every cup has the same strength.
• Small cups: a few sips each, so the tea stays hot.
• A tray or carry case: catches spills, or keeps the set together for travel.

Not every set has every piece. Each Anaiza Nest product page lists exactly what is in the box.

How do you brew tea gongfu style?

1. Warm the teapot and cups with hot water, then pour it away.
2. Add the leaves: roughly 5 to 7 grams for every 100 ml of teapot.
3. Pour hot water over, then pour it off straight away. This first rinse wakes the leaves.
4. Fill again and steep for 10 to 20 seconds, then pour everything into the pitcher.
5. Share into the small cups. Add a few seconds to each new round.

Which teas suit a gongfu set?

Tea	Water	Rounds
Oolong	Just off the boil, about 90 to 95°C	Many
Black tea	Boiling, about 95 to 100°C	Several
Pu-erh	Boiling	Many
Green tea	Cooler, about 75 to 85°C	A few

Bangladeshi black tea works well too: use fewer leaves and shorter steeps than you would in a large pot.

Gaiwan or teapot: which is easier?

A teapot is easier for a beginner, because the lid and spout do the work. A gaiwan takes a little practice to pour without burning your fingers, but it lets you see and smell the leaves as they open. Many tea lovers own both.

Is a gongfu tea set a good gift?

Yes, for someone who enjoys tea as a ritual rather than a quick cup. It suits a curious friend, a parent who likes to sit with guests, or a colleague who keeps tea at the desk. Anaiza Nest gongfu sets include the Five Blessings tea and incense set (৳6,200), the embossed white porcelain dragon tea set for 8 with teapot and gaiwan (৳9,870), the purple sand clay kung fu tea set (৳13,700) and the blue and white gongfu tea set for 8 in a carry case (৳16,600). For small gongfu cups on their own, see the five elements tea cups (৳2,150).

See them all in tea sets.

Gifted, beautifully.