At the end of last week, I got my Gongfu2go from Crimson Lotus Tea in the mail. I’ve been looking to get my hands on one for a while and now I finally have one. I researched it a bit online before ordering and I was really curious to experience it for myself. I wanted to see whether it is worth the hype.
Gongfu2go
An important question to ask when reviewing things is what it is exactly you are reviewing. In this case, what is the Gongfu2go actually? This portable gongfu tea brewer is described as the last one you’ll ever need. It has been specifically designed to make gongfu sessions possible when travelling. It has two identical chambers; one for tea leaves and one for hot water, and it makes sure that the leaves can be separated from the water. The chambers are quite large (150ml), which allows the leaves to fully expand during infusions.
The aim is to simplify gongfu sessions on the go because it’s not convenient to take cups and a gaiwan or teapot with you everywhere you go. A final element worth noting is the fact that there is a possibility to release pressure during and after infusions. You can open one side of the brewer and release the pressure that way to prevent spilling hot water when you open the brewer (this process is described in full detail in the instructions).
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In the box
In the box, you get the brewer itself (duh) and safety instructions. The box itself is also pretty neat. It’s really important to read the safety instructions (also available here) because if you are brewing tea, you are using hot water and you can burn yourself if you’re not careful. The brewer itself consists of 5 separate parts that can be disassembled very easily. You have the two glass parts, two folding carry handles to put at the end of the brewer to seal it off and the middle part that consists of a rotating ceramic seal and a stainless steel mesh filter.
Use
Once you know what you’ll get when buying the Gongfu2go, let’s talk about its use. You put tea leaves in one part of the brewer (the part with the stainless steel mesh filter) and hot water in the other part. To infuse the tea, you just flip it upside down to mix the water with the leaves. Make sure the ceramic seal is open, otherwise the water can’t go through! Now slowly open the top carry handle to release any pressure inside the brewer to prevent spilling hot water when you open it after infusing. Once the leaves have infused long enough, you flip the brewer again and you got yourself some tea. The following Youtube video shows you how it’s done. (Source: Crimson Lotus Tea’s Youtube channel)
I recently tasted a Liu An Gua Pian green tea. Right from the beginning, I experienced an explosion of green and verdant flavours. I also got some sweetness and nuttiness towards the end of the session. Click here to read my full notes.
Conclusion
After using the brewer for a few days, I have to say that it’s amazing. This is a necessity for any self-respecting tea lover! It’s not only for people who travel a lot, but it’s also a convenient way to have some Gong Fu tea at home when you’re busy doing something else. That is something I am also doing because it’s such an easy and convenient way to enjoy a nice cup of tea without the hassle of getting your teaware ready and cleaning it afterwards. The main focus of this device is to make tea on the go very easily and that is exactly what it does. I could go on talking about this brewer but that would be a waste of time. If you’re looking for a portable brewing device, this is the one you should get.
If you’re interested in buying this fantastic device, visit Crimson Lotus Tea’s shop here.
