Gilan Gift's Guide to Brewing Traditional Lahijan Hand-Crafted Tea

To experience the deep aroma, rich color, and authentic flavor of our premium hand-crafted tea (چای دستی), follow this traditional northern brewing method.

Brewing Steps

1. Rinse the Leaves: Add your desired amount of loose tea leaves into the teapot. Gently rinse them once with cool water to awaken the leaves and remove any fine tea dust, then drain.

2. Pre-heat the Teapot: Fill your kettle with high-quality spring or mineral water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. While the water is heating up, place your teapot (with the rinsed leaves) directly on top of the kettle to let it pre-warm.

3. Settle the Water: Once the water boils, lower the flame to a gentle simmer. Let it sit for a moment to allow any natural mineral sediments in the water to settle down.

4. The Perfect Ratio: Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves in your teapot. For the perfect strength, use 150 ml of water for every 3 grams of tea leaves.

5. The Long Steep: Place the teapot back on top of the simmering kettle. Let it steam and steep undisturbed for at least 20 to 30 minutes.

⚠️ Three Golden Rules for Traditional Hand-Crafted Tea

Traditional hand-crafted tea behaves differently than mass-produced factory tea. To unlock its full premium potential, always remember these three secrets:

• Patience is Key (Longer Steeping Time): Hand-rolled traditional tea leaves take much longer to unfurl and release their true color and essence compared to crushed factory tea. Never rush it—give it a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes to fully bloom.

• Watch the Water Volume: Ensure the water level sits exactly one knuckle-width above the tea leaves inside the teapot. Using too much water will dilute the strength, body, and complex flavor notes of the tea.

• Water Quality Matters: Always use clean, filtered, or mineral spring water. Avoid using kettles with heavy metal limescale buildup, as metal residue will instantly alter and spoil the delicate, clean taste of traditional tea.