🍃 Tea Perfectionist Master Hub

Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Tea Journey

“We are Tea Perfectionist, where the art and science of tea converge to create the perfect cup.”

Starting a tea journey is exciting—and it’s easier than it looks. With a few core tools, a handful of quality leaves, and simple brewing habits, beginners can taste remarkable flavor right away. This guide shows what to buy, how to brew, and how to explore without overwhelm.

🧰 The Minimal Starter Kit

You don’t need a full tea bar to begin. Focus on accuracy and consistency:

Kettle: Any reliable kettle; a variable‑temperature kettle is a bonus.
Scale or teaspoon: A digital scale (0.1g precision) is ideal; otherwise use a consistent spoon.
Infuser: Basket infuser or a simple teapot with built‑in strainer. A gaiwan works for exploring later.
Timer: Phone timer is perfect—control time to control flavor.
Notebook: Jot down tea name, temp, time, and taste. Small notes lead to big gains.

Pro Tip: Accuracy beats fancy gear. A stable temperature and timing routine instantly improves results.

🍵 What Teas to Buy First

Start with a balanced sampler to learn contrasts—fresh vs. roasted, light vs. full‑bodied:

Green: Sencha or Longjing for fresh, vegetal/umami notes.
Oolong (light): Tieguanyin or High Mountain for floral, creamy character.
Oolong (roasted): Wuyi rock oolong for mineral and toasty depth.
Black: Dian Hong or Assam for honeyed or malty richness.
White: Silver Needle or White Peony for delicate sweetness and texture.
Optional: A friendly shou (ripe) pu‑erh to discover smooth, earthy comfort.

Pro Tip: Buy smaller amounts (25–50g). Fresh variety teaches faster than one large bag of a single tea.

📏 Beginner Brew Ratios (Easy Mode)

Use these forgiving baselines, then adjust to taste:

Tea Type	Leaf-to-Water	Temperature	Time
White	2g per 200ml	70–80°C	2–4 min
Green	2g per 200ml	75–85°C	2–3 min
Oolong	3g per 200ml	85–90°C	3–5 min
Black	2.5g per 200ml	~95°C	3–5 min
Pu‑erh (shou)	3g per 200ml	95–100°C	3–5 min

Pro Tip: If a cup tastes bitter, drop the temperature 5–10°C or shorten time by 30–45s. If it’s thin, add 0.5g leaf or extend 30s.

🔬 Water, Timing, Consistency

Flavor lives in details: water quality, temperature, and time. Use clean, low‑to‑moderate mineral water; keep temperatures within the suggested range; and time each infusion. Consistency creates repeatable results—and reveals real differences between teas.

🗺️ A Simple Exploration Plan (4 Weeks)

Build foundational taste memory with short, focused sessions:

Week 1: Green vs. black. Brew both twice, compare sweetness, bitterness, and mouthfeel.
Week 2: Light vs. roasted oolong. Note floral vs. toasty/mineral character.
Week 3: White vs. green. Observe texture and aroma differences at lower temps.
Week 4: Shou pu‑erh vs. black. Explore body, smoothness, and aftertaste.

Pro Tip: Taste side‑by‑side in identical cups. Small comparisons accelerate learning dramatically.

📓 How to Take Tasting Notes

Keep notes short and practical. Capture what helps the next brew:

Specs: Tea name, grams, water ml, temperature, time.
Aromas/flavors: 3 words max (e.g., “honey, orchid, mineral”).
Texture/finish: Silky, brisk, drying, lingering sweetness.
Adjust next time: “-10°C” or “+30s” or “+0.5g leaf”.