Notes on balance, brewing and the leaves we source — a slow read for the ritual.
Golden Flowers are one of the most fascinating and misunderstood features of traditional Fu Brick tea. Often mistaken for mould, these tiny golden colonies of Eurotium cristatum are a valued part of the fermentation process in certain Hei Cha. Discover what they are, how they influence flavour, and why they represent a unique expression of tea rather than a measure of quality.
Brewing Hei Cha gong fu style is less about following rigid timings and more about paying attention to how the tea develops. This guide explores leaf ratios, water temperature, rinsing, teaware and the changing flavour journey of Fu Cha, from gentle earthy notes to deep mineral sweetness.
What makes one tea leaf more suitable than another? Explore how tenderness, season, cultivar and careful plucking shape the raw material, and how skilled makers use withering, rolling, oxidation, heat and drying to bring out its best qualities.
New to Gong Fu Cha? Discover the essential equipment you need to begin, from choosing a porcelain gaiwan to understanding fairness pitchers, cups and kettles. Learn which tools are truly necessary, which can wait, and why great tea depends more on thoughtful brewing than expensive teaware.
Learn how to brew Hei Cha, or Chinese dark tea, including Fu brick, Tian Jian, Liu Bao and aged basket teas.
Learn how to brew Sheng Pu’er with the right leaf ratio, temperature and infusion times for sweetness, energy and evolving complexity.
Learn how to brew Shu Pu’er for a clean, smooth and comforting cup, including rinsing, ratios and repeated gong fu infusions.
Learn how to protect loose-leaf tea from air, moisture, heat, light and odours, with practical guidance for green, white, oolong, red, dark and Pu’er tea.
White tea can be delicate, floral and quietly sweet, but it offers far more variety than its pale appearance suggests. Discover the principal styles of white tea, how their flavours differ and how to brew them well.
Green, oolong and black tea can all begin with leaves from the same plant. The difference lies in what happens after picking. Discover how controlled oxidation transforms fresh tea leaves into cups that can taste grassy, floral, fruity, honeyed or deeply malty.
Professional tea tasting is not about finding the “correct” flavour. It is about learning to observe aroma, texture, balance, finish and the way a tea evolves through each infusion.
A gaiwan is a simple Chinese lidded bowl, yet it offers remarkable control over loose leaf tea. Discover how it works, how to hold and pour from one, and why porcelain remains such a versatile choice for Gong Fu brewing.
Learn how to brew white tea properly, including the best temperatures, leaf ratios and methods for Silver Needle, Bai Mu Dan and aged Shou Mei.
Learn how to brew green tea with the right water temperature, leaf ratio and timing, from glass brewing to gong fu preparation.
Discover how to brew oolong tea for aroma, texture and multiple infusions, with practical guidance for rolled and strip-style oolongs.
Learn how to brew Chinese red tea, known in the West as black tea, for sweetness, aroma and a smooth, full-bodied cup.
Discover what makes Pu’er tea unique, how sheng and shou differ, what happens during ageing, and how to choose, store and brew this remarkable tea from Yunnan.
Find the loose-leaf tea that suits your palate with this practical guide to flavour, texture and intensity across white, green, oolong, red, Pu’er and dark tea.
Learn how to brew loose-leaf tea using the gong fu cha method, including the essential teaware, leaf ratios, water temperatures and simple steps for your first session.
Explore the history, philosophy and living practice of gong fu cha, from its Chaozhou roots to the attention, hospitality and adaptable skill at its heart.
Discover the six traditional types of Chinese tea—green, white, yellow, oolong, red and dark—and why Sheng and Shu Pu’er are increasingly treated as distinct categories.
Something beautiful is brewing. The Astraluna Tea website is almost here, a place where exceptional loose-leaf teas, mindful rituals, and moments of connection come together. We can’t wait to welcome you and share the journey. Balance ✦ Ritual ✦ Connection.
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