How much tea to use?

[Tea Noob]

Personally I only will rinse for chinese teas. I for flavored teas like an EG I would suggest less leaf and a longer infusion time. High leaf:water ratios don't seem to pull out the flavor as well from a flavored tea. A long soak does, but with high leaf to water you pull out to much tea power.

I see your point. I am still figuring this stuff out and I appreciate the advice.

Generically called 'Gong Fu' brewing, in either a Small-ish Yixing clay pot or Gaiwan'.

Can be used for a number of teas, but particularly if used in a Yixing pot is the recpmmended method for oolongs and Pu Erhs

I have read up on those things on here a little and I think at this stage, for me, I am going to focus on the tea with my funds before I begin to branch out. However, I did see a a very cool looking item at Whole Foods by Rishi that is called a Koryo. I know if isn't as popular (or traditionally Japanese/Chinese) but it seems that it would be a nice beginner piece before getting into Gaiwan or Yixing pieces. (random question: is the 'X' in Yixing a 'zee' sound?)

[ABx]

Most people don't get much more out of a black tea by brewing gongfu style. Gongfu style brewing is better suited to oolong and puerh. For black tea you might just use about twice the leaf and for half the time. For whole leaf Chinese green tea you might also try glass brewing - put hot water and leaf in a glass and let it sit. It will cool down and most of the leaf will fall to the bottom when it's ready (if not before).

[Herb_Master]

(random question: is the 'X' in Yixing a 'zee' sound?)

I am led to believe that the word is pronounced "Yee - shing"

[JP]

(random question: is the 'X' in Yixing a 'zee' sound?)

I am led to believe that the word is pronounced "Yee - shing"

So close.

It's actually pronounced Ee-Shing. The Chinese tend to not pronounce the Y. But both pronunciations are common for us Westerners.

[ABx]

(random question: is the 'X' in Yixing a 'zee' sound?)

I am led to believe that the word is pronounced "Yee - shing"

So close.

It's actually pronounced Ee-Shing. The Chinese tend to not pronounce the Y. But both pronunciations are common for us Westerners.

Don't forget that there are as many dialects as there are cities, villages, and towns (perhaps an exaggeration, but not much of one). Additionally, Chinese sounds don't often translate directly. The Cantonese owner of my local tea shop pretty much pronounces the y, although it may have been half way between/a combination of e and y.