Black Tea has a gentle character, with a bright red infusion and a rich taste. Mastering some small tips for brewing black Tea will help you make a Cup of tea that is better in color, aroma, and flavor!

Choice of Teaware

For brewing black tea, we recommend using a white porcelain Gaiwan. It allows for quick pouring out of the infusion, does not absorb the tea's aroma or flavor, and perfectly preserves the tea's fragrance. This enables a better appreciation of the aroma's changes and allows the tea's flavors to be well-released, producing a sweet and mellow taste.

Amount of Tea

Depending on personal preference, generally 4.5 to 5 grams of tea is used for a 120 ml gaiwan, resulting in a suitably concentrated infusion. Using too much tea can result in bitterness, while using too little can make the infusion bland.

Water Selection

The water used for brewing black tea should be “soft water” with low magnesium content; spring water is best as it contains the least amount of calcium and magnesium compounds and includes various minerals needed by the human body. Purified water is the next best option.

Water Temperature

The recommended water temperature is 90 to 100 degrees Celsius. For more delicate teas, the water temperature should not be too high, whereas for older teas, a higher temperature is suitable.

Warming the Cup

Pour boiling water into the cup. Warming the cup is essential to avoid significant changes in water temperature and to better stimulate the aroma of the black tea.

Brewing Technique

High-Pour Fixed Spot: Pour water at a fixed spot, using a high pour without directly hitting the tea leaves. Pour along the side of the vessel to make the leaves tumble, which helps them unfurl and release their inner qualities quickly. This technique helps to stimulate the tea's aroma, making it more pronounced and increasing the fullness and richness of the infusion.

Infusion Time

Black tea typically requires a quick infusion. Therefore, when brewing black tea, the first four infusions should be about 5 seconds each, with an additional 5 seconds added for each subsequent infusion. If a stronger flavor is desired, the tea can be steeped for a longer period.

Black tea is a very common type of tea drink, known for its sweet and mellow taste and bright red infusion. More importantly, it can prevent tooth decay, regulate the digestive system, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol, making it highly popular among tea enthusiasts due to its strong health benefits.