Lesson 1
Why Gong Fu Tea? A Practice of Relationship
In this opening lesson, you’ll be introduced to the deeper “why” behind gong fu tea. Through personal story and live demonstration, you’ll begin to explore tea not just as a method of brewing, but as a practice of listening, relationship, and presence. You’ll also get a first look at essential teaware and how the process of multiple steepings creates a more nuanced and connected experience with the tea.
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Lesson 2
Understanding Tea: From Leaf to Cup
In this lesson, you’ll explore the essential nature of tea—what it is, how it’s processed, and how its journey from plant to cup influences both flavor and experience. You’ll learn the difference between more delicate and more robust teas, why aged teas are often easier to begin with, and how factors like sourcing, plant age, and growing environment shape the quality and energy of the tea. This foundation will help you approach tea with greater sensitivity and confidence.
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Lesson 3
The Role of Water in Gong Fu Tea
In this lesson, you’ll explore the importance of water as the second essential ingredient in tea. You’ll learn why natural spring water is often preferred, how mineral content affects the quality of your brew, and practical ways to source or improve your water at home. This understanding will help you create a cleaner, more vibrant tea experience and deepen your sensitivity to how subtle elements shape the final cup.
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Lesson 4
Tea Kettles: Materials, Energy, and Practical Use
In this lesson, you’ll learn how different kettles influence both the practical and subtle qualities of your tea. From glass and stainless steel to stoneware and cast iron, each material interacts with water in a unique way. You’ll also explore what to avoid—like plastic—and how to choose a kettle that supports both your current setup and your evolving tea practice.
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Lesson 5
Choosing the Right Teapot
In this lesson, you’ll explore the role of the teapot as the vessel where tea and water come together. You’ll learn how different materials—like glass, clay, and porcelain—affect the brewing process, and why starting simple can be the most supportive approach. You’ll also gain practical insight into pot size, versatility, and how certain teapots evolve over time as part of your tea practice.
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Lesson 6
Tea Cups: Size, Material, and Experience
In this lesson, you’ll explore how tea cups shape the experience of drinking tea. You’ll learn how size, thickness, and material influence temperature and feel, and how to choose cups that align with your setup and intention. You’ll also gain simple, practical guidance—like why glazed interiors matter—so you can use your cups with ease and flexibility across different teas.
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Lesson 7
Exploring a Full Gong Fu Tea Setup
In this lesson, you’ll be introduced to optional teaware that can support and enhance your tea practice. From tea boats and pitchers to filters and discard bowls, you’ll learn the purpose of each item and how they contribute to flow and functionality during a session. At the same time, you’ll be reminded that none of these are required—what matters most is beginning with what you have and allowing your setup to evolve naturally over time.
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Lesson 8
Start Where You Are: Brewing with What You Have
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to begin your tea practice using simple items you already have at home. Rather than waiting for the “perfect” setup, you’ll be guided to start with what’s available—whether that’s a saucepan, a glass, or even a tea bag. This approach emphasizes experimentation, creativity, and direct experience, helping you build confidence and connection with tea from the very beginning.
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Lesson 9
Creating a Space for Tea and Presence
In this lesson, you’ll explore how your environment shapes your tea practice. You’ll learn how creating a dedicated space—simple or intentional—can support presence, focus, and a deeper relationship with tea. Through thoughtful setup, meaningful objects, and gentle preparation, your space becomes an extension of the practice itself, inviting you to slow down and fully arrive.
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Lesson 10
How Much Tea to Use: Finding the Right Balance
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to work with one of the most important variables in tea: the amount of leaf you use. Through simple guidelines and hands-on demonstration, you’ll explore how leaf quantity affects strength, flavor, and overall balance in the brew. Rather than rigid rules, this approach invites you to develop a feel over time—using both measurement and intuition to find what works best.
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Lesson 11
Working with Tea Cakes: Breaking and Preparing Pu-erh
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to work with compressed teas like pu-erh cakes and bricks. You’ll be guided through the process of safely breaking off leaf using simple tools, as well as how to measure and prepare it for brewing. This practical skill opens the door to a wider world of aged teas while helping you approach them with confidence and care.
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Lesson 12
Boiling Water: Temperature, Timing, and Awareness
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to bring water to the right point for brewing tea, with a focus on simplicity and awareness. While aged teas are more forgiving and work well with fully boiled water, you’ll also be introduced to subtle cues—like sound and visual changes—that can deepen your connection to the process. This approach invites you to move beyond just “heating water” into a more attentive and responsive practice.
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Lesson 13
The Art of Brewing Tea
In this lesson, you’ll be guided through the core process of brewing tea—from rinsing and awakening the leaf to your first full steepings. You’ll learn how to work with timing, temperature, and attention, while also being invited into a more intuitive and intentional relationship with the process. Rather than focusing on perfection, this approach encourages listening, presence, and allowing the tea to guide you over time.
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Lesson 14
Pouring Tea: Flow, Intention, and Energy
In this lesson, you’ll explore pouring as both a functional skill and an expressive part of the tea practice. You’ll learn how technique—like even distribution and steady flow—supports a balanced brew, while also discovering how speed, movement, and intention can influence the energy of a session. Over time, pouring becomes a way to communicate presence, guide the atmosphere, and bring your own unique expression into the practice.
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Lesson 15
Understanding the Arc of the Tea
In this lesson, you’ll explore how tea evolves over multiple steepings—moving through a natural arc of opening, peak expression, and gentle decline. You’ll learn how to adjust brew times to follow this rhythm, along with simple guidelines to support you as you build experience. Over time, this becomes less about timing and more about sensing the tea’s progression through color, taste, and feel.
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Lesson 16
Listening to the Energy of Tea (Cha Qi)
In this lesson, you’ll be introduced to the energetic dimension of tea—often referred to as cha qi. Beyond flavor and aroma, tea carries a felt experience that unfolds in the body over time. You’ll begin to explore how different teas can support different states—grounding, clarity, creativity—and how developing a relationship with tea allows it to become a subtle guide and companion in your practice.
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Lesson 17
How to Conclude a Tea Ceremony
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to recognize when a tea session is naturally coming to completion and how to bring it to a close with clarity and ease. You’ll explore subtle cues—like diminishing flavor and energy—as well as simple ways to communicate the final steeping in a group setting. Closing the session becomes a continuation of the practice itself: grounded, respectful, and complete.
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Lesson 18
Cleaning and Caring for Your Teaware
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to properly clean and care for your teaware after a session. You’ll explore what to wash, what to avoid—like using soap on certain pots—and how to maintain both hygiene and the integrity of your tools over time. This process becomes an extension of the practice itself, inviting mindfulness, care, and respect for the objects that support your tea journey.
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Lesson 19
Closing Reflections: Beginning Your Tea Practice
In this final lesson, you’ll reflect on the core intention of the course: to begin. Rather than mastering every detail, the invitation is to start brewing, stay consistent, and allow tea itself to become your teacher over time. What you’ve learned here is a foundation—one that will deepen naturally through practice, curiosity, and direct experience.
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