Does anyone know of a place in Taipei where you can take classes in Chinese on how to make tea, how to paocha correctly? If not classes, maybe a good tea store where they’ll be willing to explain and show you if you ask nicely? 
Thanks!
In English or Chinese?
In Chinese! 
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Pour boiling water into mug.
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Add teabag, making sure the teabag string hangs outside and wait about 30 seconds.
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Jiggle the teabag with the string about three- four times up and down to release more flavour.
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Remove tea bag.
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Add two teaspoons white sugar, and milk to taste. Never use skim milk! Stir.
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Enjoy.
How frikin’ hard is that?
[quote=“urodacus”]1. Pour boiling water into mug.
-
Add teabag, making sure the teabag string hangs outside and wait about 30 seconds.
-
Jiggle the teabag with the string about three- four times up and down to release more flavour.
-
Remove tea bag.
-
Add two teaspoons white sugar, and milk to taste. Never use skim milk! Stir.
-
Enjoy.
How frikin’ hard is that?[/quote]
She doesn’t want to learn the difficult tea making.
She wants to learn the one where you put in a little bit of tea leaves in hot water, cover the pot and then strain out the water and drink it.
In Chinese! [/quote]
Most teashops will be happy to make tea for you and answer your questions about how to do so, so just sit back, observe, taste some teas and choose the ones you like. Yongkang street has a few decent ones (冶堂). Maokong is another possibility.
As for deeper study, do you want to learn the aesthetic aspect of it? Teaware connoisseurship, mise-en-scene, manners, pouring techniques, etc. or do you just want the best tea leaves with a no-BS, no-mumbo-jumbo, no-energy-of-the-water, no-my-master-said-it-should-be-this-way approach?
If your just wanting to brew tea, then you can learn that in any tea shop.
Are you wanting to learn how to grow, pick, and process/roll/dry/roast/ the leaves?
Ask them: chafortea.com.tw/store_e.asp
They used to have very good courses on brewing tea in Chinese/Taiwanese style.
The Peitou Museum (used to be the Folk Art Museum) is a nice place to visit and learn at the same time:
folkartsm.org.tw/eng/main.asp
Urodocas,
You’re a heathen.
No pot? No tea cosy? No coasters?
Tea strainer? Tea leaves?
Don’t come here with your funny ideas on how to make a proper cup of tea. You didn’t even mention auxiliaries such as Rich Tea biscuits.
[quote=“Jialin”]Does anyone know of a place in Taipei where you can take classes in Chinese on how to make tea, how to paocha correctly? If not classes, maybe a good tea store where they’ll be willing to explain and show you if you ask nicely?
Thanks![/quote]
I believe that class is offered at Shida.
You can contact service@exquisitea.com (website http://www.exquisitea.com )
She has tea gatherings every so often where you can learn about tea and brewing etc.
You can have tea brewing explained to you at any store. But, for traditional Taiwanese gongfu tea brewing, take a trip to Wisteria. Not cheap. But if you’re into oolong or puerh, you can be sure to find the real deal there. *I wouldn’t recommend buying tea from them though, unless you have money to throw around.
I love tea, but I am not into the whole ‘traditional culture’ of tea. A load of faffing around to get to a good brew. All I know is you don’t drink the first quick brew, you throw that out and go for the seconds.
Keep drinking only the good stuff!!
The Museum of World Religion is going to start tea-making classes soon. Otherwise, go to a tea shop, ask to try some teas and see how they do it.
At the train station Breeze Mall, second floor, you can buy very good organic teas. They come with English instructions for brewing. It’s not that hard but it’s important to know how much to fill the teapot and how hot the water should be (some teas require boiling water, others just under boiling).
Beyond that it’s trial and error.
[quote=“Mucha Man”]The Museum of World Religion is going to start tea-making classes soon. Otherwise, go to a tea shop, ask to try some teas and see how they do it.
At the train station Breeze Mall, second floor, you can buy very good organic teas. They come with English instructions for brewing. It’s not that hard but it’s important to know how much to fill the teapot and how hot the water should be (some teas require boiling water, others just under boiling).
Beyond that it’s trial and error.[/quote]
Tea in Breeze Mall? 
I’m willing to bet my non-existent job that the prices are a rip-off. 
I usually only frequent teashop’s teashops, haven’t made it to em farms up in the clouds yet though.
[quote=“SilentChaos”][quote=“Muzha Man”]The Museum of World Religion is going to start tea-making classes soon. Otherwise, go to a tea shop, ask to try some teas and see how they do it.
At the train station Breeze Mall, second floor, you can buy very good organic teas. They come with English instructions for brewing. It’s not that hard but it’s important to know how much to fill the teapot and how hot the water should be (some teas require boiling water, others just under boiling).
Beyond that it’s trial and error.[/quote]
Tea in Breeze Mall? I’m willing to bet my non-existent job that the prices are a rip-off. [/quote]
Pricey but a good selection and high quality. I know cheaper places but this is a good option for a newbie.
If you want to visit farms, head up to Maokong. Pretty simple now with the gondola.
I buy tea everywhere I go. Lots of excellent little farms.
[quote=“Mucha Man”]
If you want to visit farms, head up to Maokong. Pretty simple now with the gondola.
I buy tea everywhere I go. Lots of excellent little farms.[/quote]
Been to Maokong, mostly either all tourist places or places upselling way too much. I mean more like Da yu ling, really up in the clouds.
As mentioned above try the museum of world religions. I went to a talk there by a chap who’s been studying tea making for twenty years. Apparently there is more to it than just pouring hot water onto tea leaves.
The museum is also very interesting and worth a visit whether you are religious or not