Drinking great tea is one of our favorite things, but sharing great tea is even better. We love to help others appreciate their tea experience, and if you love tea as much as we do, you probably do too. Yet making sure everyone gets the perfect cup can be a challenge, especially when brewing for a group. Today we’re breaking down the best brewing methods for serving a crowd, whether you’re hosting a serious tasting, pairing tea with a meal, or preparing refreshments for a party.

1. Gong Fu Cha

The traditional brewing technique seen in many Chinese and Taiwanese tea houses is perfect for in-depth appreciation of high quality teas. Using small teaware allows for repeated infusions, allowing plenty of time for conversation while brewing. We find that one of our Jingdezhen gaiwans (which brew about 150mL of tea at once) can fill 4-6 matching tasting cups, the perfect number for an intimate gathering of tea lovers.

Learn how to brew gong fu cha with our step-by-step guide >>

2. Large Teapots

When pairing tea with food, flavor complexity in the cup often takes a backseat. Instead of the detail-oriented process of gong fu cha, a perfect complement can be brewed in a large teapot with a little less attention. An infuser basket makes it easy to remove the leaves to preserve flavor and allow for two or three infusions, while the larger capacity makes it possible to serve a bigger group. Our glass infuser pot (at about 20oz) can serve up to 8 medium-sized teacups with each infusion.

3. Cold Brewing

Please a large party with perfectly brewed iced tea! Prepare in advance by steeping tea leaves in the fridge overnight, using cold water to maximize natural sweetness in the final brew. We like to use about 10 grams of leaves per gallon of water, or make a more concentrated infusion to serve over ice. This method needs minimal attention, and avoids bitterness with infinitely forgiving flavor, making it ideal for the busy hostess.

Get everything you need to start cold brewing in our starter kit >>

What’s your favorite method when brewing to share? Tell us how you make tea for a group in the comments below!

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