Grandpa Style
Grandpa style is brewing loose leaf directly in a glass or mug, drinking it with the leaf in, and topping up with hot water before the cup runs dry.
Definition
Grandpa style is the informal name, popularized by English-language tea writers, for the way tea is drunk across much of China in offices, trains, and taxi cabs: a pinch of loose leaf goes into a tall glass or a lidded jar, hot water goes on top, and the drinker sips through the day without ever removing the leaf. The trick is never to empty the glass. When about a third of the liquid remains, it is refilled with hot water. The leftover concentrated tea mixes with the fresh water, keeping strength roughly steady while the leaf slowly gives up its flavor over several refills. The method only works with teas that resist turning bitter under long contact. Chinese green teas such as Longjing and Bi Luo Chun are the classic choice because the leaf sinks and stays mild; many Taiwanese high mountain oolongs, white teas and aged sheng pu'er also cope well. Small broken leaf and heavily fired black teas tend to become harsh. Grandpa style needs no teaware beyond a glass, which is why it remains the most common way tea is actually drunk in China.
In Depth
Leaf amount: 2-3 g in a 300-400 ml glass is enough; more leaf than that turns bitter by the second refill. Use water around 80°C (176°F) for green tea and 90-95°C (194-203°F) for oolong or white tea, and refill when the glass is one-third full.
Leaf floating on the surface is the main nuisance. Pouring a little water first, letting the leaf wet and sink for 30 seconds, then filling the glass helps. Large-leaf teas such as Taiping Houkui are easier to drink around than fine broken leaf, which ends up in the mouth.
Double-walled glass tumblers with a lid and a coarse lift-out mesh are a common Chinese commuter version. If a fully sealed flask is used, the leaf stews at high temperature; the cup should be drunk within an hour or two rather than left all day.
See Also
- Chinese Daily Tea Habits
- Glass Brewing
- Green Tea Brewing