Many who enjoy light green tea are reluctant to try the robust flavor of black tea, finding it too bitter and lacking the ethereal quality of tea. Black tea is fully fermented, and its strong taste is both its characteristic and its advantage, making it particularly suitable for drinking in autumn and winter.

The brewing process of black tea:

1. "Precious Glow" Appears

Black tea has tightly rolled leaves with good tips, and its color is not the commonly assumed red but a glossy black. The international name for black tea, "Black tea," comes from the dark color of the dried leaves.

2. Spring Water Boils

Heat the water in the kettle until it slightly boils, with bubbles rising like "crab eyes."

3. Warm the Teapot and Cups

Pour the initially boiled water into the porcelain pot and cups to warm them.

4. "Prince" Enters the Palace

Use a tea spoon to gently scoop the black tea from the tea holder or欣赏盘 into the pot.

5. Pour from a Height

This is the key to brewing black tea. The water temperature should be between 90-100°C. The water, now past the "crab eye" stage and at the "fish eye" stage, is perfect for brewing. Pouring from a height allows the tea leaves to fully infuse under the agitation of the water, bringing out the best in color, aroma, and taste.

6. Serve the Tea

Use a circular pouring method to evenly distribute the tea from the pot into each cup, ensuring consistent color and flavor.

7. Enjoy the Aroma

Before drinking, take a moment to appreciate the aroma. Black tea is known for its rich, long-lasting fragrance, often described as sweet with a hint of orchid.

8. Savor the Freshness

After admiring the aroma and color, take a slow sip. Black tea is known for its fresh, mellow taste, differing from the strong, sharp flavor of broken black tea. Its taste is rich and leaves a lasting aftertaste.

9. Appreciate the Aftertaste

After the first infusion, you can brew a second pot.

There are also various tools for brewing black tea:

Porcelain Pot

Black tea is fully fermented, characterized by "red leaves, red liquor, and red brewed leaves." It is highly versatile and pairs well with milk, honey, sugar, fruit juice, lemon, spices, or even alcohol, making it perfect for creating romantic beverages. A pot of sweet, fragrant black tea on a sunny afternoon or during autumn leaves or winter snow is truly uplifting.

Glass Pot

The advantage of a glass pot over a porcelain one is that you can leisurely observe the tea leaves as they infuse. Place the dried leaves in the filter of the glass pot, then pour in hot water and watch the water gradually take on the color of the tea. You can also add your favorite fruits or petals for a unique touch.

Double-Handled Cup

Place 3-4 grams of dried tea in the inner strainer, pour in water at around 90°C, wait a few seconds, then lift the strainer to separate the brewed tea from the water. This method is compact and convenient, suitable for home, office, or outdoor use, as long as hot water is available.

飘逸 Cup

The飘逸 cup is even more convenient than the double-handled cup. Once the tea is separated from the water, the cup itself serves as the drinking vessel, eliminating the need for additional cups. Known as the universal office tea set, it can brew any type of tea without taking up much space, meeting your tea-drinking needs in a低调 and practical way.

Covered Bowl

The万能 tea set in tea rooms, the covered bowl is perfect for brewing black tea. It allows control over the amount of tea, water temperature, brewing time, and number of infusions, offering endless surprises in observing the leaves, admiring the liquor, smelling the aroma, and tasting the flavor. The covered bowl, also known as the "three-talent cup," symbolizes heaven (lid), earth (saucer), and humanity (bowl), representing harmony between the three.

Purple Clay Pot

Purple clay pots are also excellent for brewing black tea. Whether the tea is tender or coarse, spring or summer harvest, a purple clay pot can brew it well while also nurturing the pot. Broken black tea brewed in a purple clay pot and then mixed into milk tea is especially delicious.