Dian Hong Black Tea is a fully Fermented tea that undergoes typical processes such as withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying. Many people enjoy drinking Dian Hong black tea, savoring its rich and smooth taste and its floral and honey-like aroma. But how can you brew delicious Dian Hong black tea?

How to Brew Delicious Dian Hong Black Tea?

1. Quality Tea Leaves

It is essential to choose high-quality tea leaves. If you lack experience in this area, opt for branded teas within the same category, where you should trust the brand's reputation.

Tea leaves should be stored away from moisture and heat, and not kept with cleaning agents, fragrances, or soaps to maintain their purity. Approximately 3-4 grams of tea are needed to brew a cup of black tea.

2. Good Water Quality

High-quality pure water or mountain spring water rich in trace elements can best bring out the inherent aroma of black tea.

3. Suitable Teaware

The fragrant taste of black tea requires appropriate teaware to complement its unique elegance. Ceramic and glass teaware are preferred.

4. Appropriate Temperature

Place an adequate amount of tea (3-4 grams) into a lidded bowl, Teapot, or teacup. The water temperature should be around 90 to 95 degrees Celsius. It is also important to preheat the teapot and teacups with hot water, a step known as warming the pot (cup).

5. Correct brewing Time

Place the tea leaves into the vessel and pour in hot water, then cover the teapot or lidded bowl to allow the aroma and flavor of the black tea to fully develop in the hot water. The first infusion should be around 15 to 20 seconds, with each subsequent infusion increasing by 5-10 seconds. Depending on the processing method, Dian Hong black tea can be brewed 6-8 times.

The Method of Brewing Black Tea

1. Selecting Teaware

When brewing black tea, it is important to consider the tea leaf's ability to unfurl freely. “Let the tea leaves dance freely in the teapot.”

If the tea leaves are compressed, tannic acid can cause a bitter taste. Brewing Dian Hong in a lidded bowl allows the tea's aroma to be fully expressed.

Purple clay Teapots retain fragrance well and are suitable for brewing strong-flavored teas like black tea. Using a purple clay teapot can produce a more robust flavor due to its slow heat dissipation and good heat retention.

2. Water-to-Tea Ratio

When brewing, use a ratio of 50:1 water to tea. For example, if using 3 grams of tea, use 150 milliliters of water.

3. Water Temperature

Black tea is a fully fermented tea that suits high temperatures to release its aroma. A beginner's secret is to use boiling water directly to brew the tea. When the water is added to the teapot, it should be around 95°C.

4. Brewing Time

The brewing time for black tea should not be too long. Only Pu'er tea or dark tea requires several minutes of steeping time. For black tea, the maximum brewing time should not exceed 3 minutes, typically ranging from 15 seconds to 2 minutes. Initially, a shorter brewing time is recommended, with subsequent infusions gradually increasing. Different types of black tea have different brewing times, and generalizations cannot be made. High-quality black teas can have a shorter initial brewing time and are more resistant to over-brewing.

Dian Hong, a large-leaf ancient tree black tea, has thicker and fuller tea leaves, and should be brewed at high temperatures with a quick pouring out of the tea liquor. This helps to extract the tea's internal substances, elevating its aroma without producing any negative flavors.