Once the Awakening of Insects season passes, this year's freshly harvested Spring Tea will hit the market. As the weather warms up, tea plants that have accumulated nutrients over winter begin sprouting new buds and releasing their fragrance. So, what are some tips for drinking spring tea? My suggestion is that there is no need to perform the “washing tea” step when drinking spring tea.
Three Good Things About Spring Tea
First, it's rich in nutrients. After a winter of rest and accumulation, spring tea buds are plump, bright green, and glossy. They contain abundant polyphenols, caffeine, Vitamin C, amino acids, as well as Selenium and zinc.
Second, it tastes great. Rich in amino acids, spring tea offers a fresh, sweet taste and an inviting aroma.
Third, it's safe. No pesticides are applied during winter, nor at the beginning of spring, especially for tea plants grown on mountainsides.
Why is the First Infusion of Tea Good?
The main nutrients in tea are found in the first infusion. When we drink tea, we're not just savoring its flavor but also consuming the nutrients dissolved in the water after being steeped. Do you know whether the first infusion or the second or third infusions contain more nutrients?
Modern tea research has found that the first infusion of tea water contains the best nutrition. This is because 85% of the polyphenols and 95% of the caffeine in the tea leaves dissolve into the water during the first infusion.
If You're Really Worried About Cleanliness, There Are Options
The first infusion of tea, which is the initial Steeping with boiling water, has the highest nutritional value. The main nutrients from the tea leaves are essentially dissolved in this water. If you discard the first infusion as a wash, it would be a pity since you'd be throwing away the essence of the tea's nutrients. In fact, spring tea is relatively safe and the leaves are quite clean. There's no need to “wash” the tea, but if you still have doubts, you could use cold boiled water to “wash” it briefly.
(By Dai Guangqiang)