A beautiful oolong does not need a complicated ceremony. A measured amount of leaf, hot water and a timer will get you started. This guide follows the TeaFun brewing card shown with our teas and focuses on ball-rolled oolong such as Past Life Dayuling.

A small-pot starting point

  • Leaf: 5–7 g.
  • Water: approximately 150 ml.
  • Temperature: freshly boiled water, approximately 100°C.
  • First steep: 60–90 seconds.
  • Later steeps: add approximately 10 seconds each time, then adjust to taste.

This is TeaFun’s starting guide, not a fixed rule for every tea or drinking style. For a first try, start at the gentler end: 5 g and 60 seconds. The same amount of leaf in a much larger mug will make a lighter cup; a smaller vessel will make a stronger one.

Brew, pour, taste

  1. Use a clean pot or brewing vessel with enough space for the rolled leaves to open. Weigh the leaf if you can.
  2. Add freshly boiled water and start timing as you pour.
  3. When the time is up, pour the tea out completely through a strainer. Avoid leaving the leaves sitting in the remaining liquor.
  4. Let the tea cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. Notice its fragrance, texture and finish.
  5. Add fresh hot water for another infusion. Extend the time gradually and stop when the flavor no longer suits you.

If the cup is too strong

Shorten the next steep or use less leaf next time. Change one variable at a time so you can tell what helped. A concentrated first brew does not mean the tea itself is wrong for you.

If the cup is too light

Check your water volume first: a large mug may hold much more than 150 ml. Try a slightly longer steep or a little more leaf. With tightly rolled tea, later infusions can taste different as the leaves open, so give the session more than one sip.

Can I cold brew it?

TeaFun’s general cold-brew guide uses 5 g of tea with 500 ml of cold drinking water, refrigerated for 6–8 hours. Use a clean container, keep it refrigerated while steeping, then strain out the leaves and enjoy it chilled. This is a separate method from making a concentrated hot brew and adding ice.

Start with a small batch. The aroma and strength you prefer cold may differ from your favorite hot cup.

Keep one useful note

Write down the tea, leaf weight, water volume and steeping time. Add a few words such as “more leaf next time” or “shorter second steep.” Those notes are more useful than trying to memorize a perfect universal recipe.

Ready to try? Explore Past Life Dayuling or Past Life Shanlinxi. For a smaller first purchase, see the tea discovery samples. Ask TeaFun if you need help adapting the brew to your vessel.

Recipe source: TeaFun’s existing brewing guide displayed in the product gallery. The product’s own instructions take priority when they differ. Reviewed on November 6, 2026.

Cover: AI-generated editorial illustration for TeaFun.