Refill according to the cup, not a fixed count
For our light leaves-in-glass proposal, you can try topping up when roughly a third of the drink remains. Taste first and decide whether you want another lighter cup. This is an editorial preference suggestion, not a required rule or a promise of a fixed number of good infusions.
If it is already unpleasantly strong, transfer the drink away from the leaves and dilute a small portion instead of repeatedly adding water to the same overloaded glass.
Keep the first brew in scope
The proposal applies to reasonably intact, loose Zhengshan Xiaozhong leaves: 2 g with an actual 250 mL of 90–95°C (194–203°F) water, in an uncovered heat-safe glass of at least 300 mL capacity. Leave the leaves in and make a first taste check around 2 minutes, after cooling enough to sip.
It is awaiting hands-on testing. Packet directions take priority. This is not a recipe for bags, broken-leaf products, unknown blends or all teas sold as Lapsang Souchong. Read Zhengshan Xiaozhong to check the product and smoked or unsmoked style.
Do not mix glass refills with short infusions
A small pot or gaiwan method may call for a different dose and complete decant after each infusion. Those conditions are not interchangeable with leaves staying in 250 mL of water. Use the preparation guide to choose the operation before choosing a time.
The fact that you can add water again does not mean the next cup will taste like the first. Stop when you no longer enjoy it; this guide does not assign a universal infusion count.
If work interrupts the cup
Before a long interruption, remove the basket or strain the drink into a suitable second vessel if you want to end leaf contact. A thermos containing both leaves and water is still a leaves-in preparation. It is not a substitute for a fully decanted recipe, and this page does not establish a safe hot-holding duration.
For flavour problems, see first-cup troubleshooting. Put the dry packet away using the storage guide.
Editorial notes
Reviewed 17 October 2026. The glass dose and refill suggestion are editorial proposals. Equipment instructions and a museum example support distinguishing operations; they do not validate this exact Xiaozhong recipe or a guaranteed number of refills.