Grandpa style

Grandpa style (lao gan bu pao fa, 老干部泡法 — literally "old cadre's brewing method") is the casual everyday Chinese approach to drinking tea. The setup is minimal: leaves directly in a tall glass or mug, hot water poured in, then sipped slowly throughout the day with periodic hot water refills. No gaiwan, no fairness pitcher, no tasting cups, no timer. The name affectionately references the older Chinese government cadres who carry their tea-filled glasses to meetings and conferences.

The approach works because of the very low leaf-to-water ratio — 1:50 to 1:80, far below gongfu's concentrated 1:15. The leaves slowly extract over hours rather than minutes, producing a gentle cup that never becomes too strong even after repeated refills. The leaves themselves settle to the bottom of the glass as they hydrate, leaving the liquor relatively clear above. The technique works particularly well with high-quality Chinese green tea (Long Jing especially), which produces a pleasant cup at gentle extraction levels. Drinkers in China routinely consume tea this way at work — the equipment is just a glass, the tea bag of leaves a small portion that makes a full day of drinking. The technique would be considered "incorrect" by gongfu purists; in practice it's how vast numbers of Chinese drinkers actually drink tea daily.

Brewing parameters

Equipment

• Tall glass or mug (~300–400ml)
• Loose leaf tea
• Hot water source

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Using too much leaf (becomes bitter; this method requires less leaf than feels natural)
2. Using boiling water with delicate green teas (scorches the leaf at the surface)
3. Letting the glass sit too long unrefilled (concentration creeps up over time)

Cup outcome

Casual all-day drinking. Cup evolves gradually as you refill; never strong or aggressive. The leaves slowly settle.

Best for tea types