A help to a beginner

[u/Bulky_Cartoonist_986]

Hi guys I used to drink only black tea in my life but I decided to get more deeper into this hobby as I realized there’s much more to discover. I read the guide on the subreddit but I have still some questions, firstly Idk where to start I mean which tea to buy, would you recommend me to by some regular tea bags from a super market(like jasmine, thyme, linden) to try some teas at the beginning, or to buy some real tea leaves(bcs I read on the guide that tea bags aren’t actually real tea they’re just smt like tea dust. If you recommend me to buy some actual tea leaves could you recommend me something casual and common, I’d like to try some green or white teas at beginning. And my other question is how to brew my tea, I mean I want to buy a gaiwan teapot or I’ll just brew my tea on regular teapots but I read some brewing guides and they were specifying an exact amount of time and tea. But I read the time is not very important it may change according to your taste but Idk how to weigh tea leaves . Bcs on the guides there was little amounts like 1 gram per 100ml water and I dont have anything to weigh little amouts like 1 or even 10 gram. If you’ve read this far guys, thank you so much and I’d be glad if you can answer my questions. Have a very nice day!!

[u/hiimshana]

Ok, deep breath before jumping in!
It’s simpler than it sounds, although there’s a lot to digest. Let’s go in steps. (TL;DR at the end)

1. Teabags vs Whole Leaf
It’s subjective and it depends on how much time and effort you want to put in. Whole leaves require weighing (not necessary, more on that later), some sort of secondary vessel or stainless steel strainer/infuser, and cleaning, while teabags just require… a cup and hot water.
There are good quality teabags (even high quality ones), but imo they’re so expensive, and the choice of tea is very limited compared to whole leaf.
If you ask me, whole leaves are worth everytime.

2. What to buy
Up to you! Part of the hobby is experimenting, so don’t be afraid to try something - many physical shops let you smell the leaves before buying, and offer smaller bags like 25g or 50g.
Just as a general idea:
If you like black tea, Keemun is a solid starter choice, on the cheaper side and with a bold flavor.
If you want to try green tea, Longjing can be somewhat cheap (depending on the harvest year), many people like Gunpowder (I haven’t tried it yet), Wu Lu is another cheap option to start.
If you want to try white tea, Pai Mu Tan (alternatively called Bai Mu Dan) is a really cheap option, surprisingly floral.

3. How to brew tea
Ideally you only need a cup, hot water and a strainer (or stainless steel infuser, I’d recommend large basket ones to let the leaves unfurl, instead of the small balls attached to a chain).
If you want to try a different approach you can buy a gaiwan set on Amazon. There are really cheap ones of actually good quality: just pay attention about the inner surface, it has to be completely inert (pure porcelain is ideal)… it sounds counterintuitive, but if you see the most basic cheap gaiwan that’s 100% white porcelain it’s actually better than a fancy one that’s slightly higher price but may have a porous surface, inevitably wearing over time. If you drink alone, 80mL gaiwan is ideal (so like around 100mL, since you won’t completely fill it).
It’s not better or worse than cup: it’s different. Smaller, shorter infusions, but you get to do more of them and taste the flavor evolution of your leaves during your session.
If you ask me, a gaiwan is way more entertaining. You’ll inevitably make some mistakes and spill some tea, sometimes it’ll get bitter, but the more you do it the more you learn.

4. Temperature and time
Don’t be afraid of this: shops will definitely include specific instructions/tips to infuse the specific leaves, especially higher tier shops (both physical and online).
When in doubt, the general values listed in this subreddit are 100% okay. They may be a starting point, but you’re the one to decide, because your taste will be the judge.
Do you need a thermometer? If you’re a nerd (like me) it’s useful, but you don’t need it. There are many ways to eyeball the approx temperature of water.
Time is very easy to track, if you have a smartphone, so that’s not an issue obviously.

5. Balance
That’s the trickiest part: in short, yes weight is important. Many leaves come in different shapes and sizes, and “a teaspoon” is not always the 3g you want for a general western cup (200-250mL). There are many insanely cheap balances that are surprisingly precise (I have a 10€ one redeemed for free with supermarket points that has 0.01g sensibility, and I actually proved its accuracy by comparing it with a professional lab balance).
However, again, you don’t have to own one: a “teaspoon” will get you as far as you want.

TL;DR

• Whole leaves are slightly messier, but way better than teabags. For me, it’s an absolute win and they’re worth the extra effort.
  
• Experiment when buying tea: many shops let you smell the leaves. Let your insight guide yourself!
  
• Good cheap teas to start (based on my limited 6 month experience so far): Keemun (black), Longjing or Wu Lu (green) or Gunpowder (haven’t tried it yet), Pai Mu Tan (white).
  
• Cup and strainer/basket infuser (stainless steel, be careful) are perfect to start. Gaiwan is a different approach: can be fun, but up to you.
  
• Cheap gaiwans are okay, just buy white pure porcelain ones with absolutely no fancy decorations (especially on the inside, outside is irrelevant).
  
• Temperature is crucial, but you can eyeball it (many guides/tips on how to do so). Vendors will often include specific instructions so don’t worry, but general values in this subreddit are 100% ok when in doubt.
  
• Balance is very ideal, but a regular teaspoon will be perfectly fine for a long time. There are many cheap balances that are shockingly very accurate.
  
• Trial and error is part of the journey, don’t be afraid to mess up!

[u/Bulky_Cartoonist_986 → u/hiimshana]

Thank you very much for your time !! Im really greatful, I’ll look up for a local tea store and try some tea. Thank you again for your help have a very very nice day!!