Preparing and Drinking Chinese Tea

Whether you need to do this depends on the type and grade of the tea. You should ask the retailer if the tea should be cleansed before drinking. The tea is not dirty in any way, but "cleansing" implies simply pouring hot water on the leaves (especially dark Oolongs like Dahongpao) to wake up the tea - letting the leaves open to reveal their full aroma.

To cleanse, simply pour hot water over the loose tea into the pot. Then pour the water out and over the cups again to maintain the warmth in the cups.