How to Make Chinese Green Tea

This article details the art of making a cup or pot of green tea using leaves, not bags, by following traditional Chinese methods. Buy some tea, a teapot and some cups. You really don't need to bother with anything else. 

Preferred Method

1. Add a lot of tea into the pot.

2. Add not-quite-boiling water. Leave for 7 to 10 seconds, and then pour out to wash the leaves.

3. Add more water.

You can feel the aroma through the upcoming steam

4. Wait, then pour to serve.

Gently place the lid and leave it for 55 seconds. For second Dong Ding Oolong tea Brewing leave it for 45 seconds, follow by 55 seconds for the third Dong Ding Oolong tea Brewing.

Tips

• For real Chinese tea especially the premium quality one, adding sugar is akin mixing 7-up with Chateau Mouton Rothschild's red wine. Chinese often find it funny, if not scornful, to see someone to do it. You can add sugar or honey to taste and put even ice, but it's not Chinese tea anymore.

• Boiled water is too hot for tender green tea leaves. Pouring boiled water upon the leaves will cause the immediate release of tannins, resulting in a bitter brew.

•  In any circumstances, before you pour tea into your own cup, always look around and see whose cup is not full, pour tea into their cups first. It's regarded as "selfish", "impolite" or "socially unadaptive" if you pour tea just for yourself.

•  When someone pours tea for you, lightly knock your two fingers on the table and say "thank you". If he's elder than you, you should pretend to be a little "guilty" that you don't deserve his politeness. This drama should be repeated every time someone pour tea for you.

•  In Chinese culture, pour tea for someone can have a lot of meanings. When a guest comes, they serve tea to show a sign of welcome. When getting married, a couple kneel on the floor and pass the tea to their parents to express their gratitude. When apologize in a private place, they stand up, bend their back, pour tea to the one who accept the apology. So, whenever an elder people pour tea for you, it's regarded as a gross politeness.

•  In a proper tea ceremony, everyone has their roles. The host is in the position for pouring tea for everyone and you shouldn't take this role. However, in a restaurant, if someone pour tea for you, you can do it for him in the next round.

•  Having the spout of the teapot facing anyone may be regarded as a bad manner in a proper tea ceremony, but Chinese usually skip this manner in a casual place.

Warnings

• Watch out for old, out-of-date tea. Check the tea. Smell it. Look at it and check for dried-out leaves. Taste a piece (but don't taste it if is has been wet and in a container for a long time, or smells completely different from its original scent; if it smells a sickly sweet [rotted]).

• It helps to know how a specific tea will smell before you buy it. If you happen to buy a tea frequently, then you can check at the store if it has gone bad before buying it.

• If you are buying loose leaf tea, make sure you examine what you are putting in the pot. Rarely small objects, such as twigs, foil(depending on the wrapping), or insects can make their way into tea accidentally.

 [SOURCE] and  How to brew Dong Ding Oolong Tea