Among the six categories of Tea, black tea is enjoyed by people of all ages and it is a fully Fermented tea. Yunnan Mei Zhan Black Tea is gentle in nature. Its “red liquor and red leaves with great taste” make it popular due to its appealing appearance and flavor. Even newcomers to tea are likely to enjoy the taste of Yunnan Mei Zhan Black Tea. However, brewing this tea requires proper technique; otherwise, the resulting liquor may be sour and astringent, making it hard to drink.

First Method: Gaiwan Brewing

1. Prepare the necessary tea ware: gaiwan, kettle (electric water heater), pitcher, tasting cups, and tea spoon, etc.

2. Before brewing, pour boiling water into the gaiwan. After about 10 seconds, discard the water. This helps increase the temperature of the gaiwan, ensuring a higher water temperature when brewing. Warm the pitcher and tasting cups after warming the gaiwan.

3. For gaiwan brewing, use 3 grams of tea. Adjust the amount of tea based on taste preference and number of people.

4. The ideal brewing temperature for Yunnan Mei Zhan Black Tea is around 90°C. The Steeping time varies depending on the coarseness and age of the leaves and the grade of the ingredients. For finer and more tender leaves, such as premium Yunnan Mei Zhan Black Tea, steep for about 10 seconds before pouring out the liquor. Increase the steeping time by 5-10 seconds with each additional infusion. Make sure to empty the gaiwan completely after each brew.

5. Pour the tea liquor into the pitcher to even out the flavor. Then, fill the tasting cups with the tea liquor from right to left. This completes the preparation of a beautiful, bright, and red cup of black tea like flowing amber.

Second Method: Travel Mug Brewing

1. Add an appropriate amount of Yunnan Mei Zhan Black Tea to the inner chamber of the travel mug. Use 3-5 grams of tea.

2. Pour boiling water into the travel mug. The optimal brewing temperature is around 90°C.

3. Cover the travel mug and let the tea steep for a moment. The first infusion should steep for about 10 seconds, and increase the steeping time by 5-10 seconds with each additional infusion.

4. Press the button above to release the tea liquor into the travel mug.

5. Pour the tea liquor from the travel mug into a cup and enjoy.

Brewing Water Pouring Techniques for Yunnan Mei Zhan Black Tea

(1) Flow Rate: Gentle and fine water flow, steady medium water flow, strong and larger water flow.

(2) Pouring Method: Fixed-point pouring, pouring along the wall of the cup, directly pouring over the leaves.

(3) For lower water temperatures, tender tea quality, or if you prefer a fresh and sweet taste or a lighter flavor, use a gentle and fine water flow followed by a quick pour-out.

(4) For higher water temperatures, older tea quality, or if you prefer a stronger taste or darker color, use a steady medium water flow or a strong and larger water flow. There is not much difference between the pouring methods, but for high-temperature water, do not pour directly onto the leaves or into the middle of the leaves, as this can negatively impact the taste. Generally, fixed-point pouring or pouring along the wall of the cup is used.