For Tea, some varieties require a not-so-high temperature, and can be brewed with slightly warm water, while others require boiling water. For Pu'er tea, the water temperature required for brewing is relatively high, and it's best to use boiling water. This is because Pu'er tea is a type of tea that is not easily infused, and if the water temperature is not high enough, the effective components in the Pu'er tea leaves will not dissolve well in the water.

Advantages of Brewing Pu'er Tea with Boiling Water:

This method allows the tea flavor to be quickly extracted, releasing its aroma and enabling the effective substances in the tea leaves to dissolve. For aged teas, brewing with boiling water can help showcase their unique characteristics, such as the softness of Yiwu, the elegance of Bulang, or the boldness of Lao Banzhang, which can be quickly revealed!

Additionally, cakes, bricks, and compressed teas made from coarser materials are also well-suited for brewing with boiling water.

However, it's worth noting that there can be differences in the boiling point of water in various regions, meaning that even when the water appears to be boiling, it may not reach an exact temperature of 100°C.

Disadvantages of Brewing Pu'er Tea with Boiling Water:

If the Pu'er tea being brewed is made from finer, high-quality young leaves, high-grade green cakes, or newly produced loose tea, then too high a water temperature might cause excessive dissolution of catechins, leading to a bitter taste.

Therefore, to Brew this type of Pu'er tea for optimal taste, it's better to use water that is slightly cooler than boiling, and the infusion time should be quick, avoiding high temperatures that could ruin the delicate tea into a “one-time infusion.”

If you want to directly brew with boiling water, you can lower the temperature by pouring the water from a higher height.

What is the Best Water Temperature for Brewing Pu'er Tea?

Ripe Pu'er: High-temperature rinsing and brewing

For ripe Pu'er tea, which has undergone wet-piling fermentation, it's essential to use high-temperature water during both rinsing and brewing. If the water isn't hot enough, the unique flavor of the ripe tea won't be fully expressed.

We recommend using water between 90°C and 100°C for rinsing and brewing most ripe Pu'er teas.

Raw Pu'er: Low-temperature rinsing and high-temperature brewing

For raw Pu'er tea, rinse with low-temperature water and brew with high-temperature water. Generally, the water temperature for brewing new raw Pu'er tea can be relatively lower, around 90°C. For aged Pu'er teas, you can use water at 100°C for brewing.

Pu'er tea is made from large-leaf sun-dried Green Tea in Yunnan, and its raw materials are coarse and rich in internal substances. Therefore, it's suitable to brew with 100°C water. High temperatures facilitate the release of the tea's aroma and flavor. Additionally, proper rinsing is crucial when brewing Pu'er tea. After pouring the water, do not let it sit for too long before decanting, as this can affect the taste of the tea.