Mansong tribute Tea, with its spring buds tender and full like the tongue of a sparrow, has slightly smaller leaves than the large-leaf variety. However, it boasts a subtle and mild flavor, is rich in content, has a distant aroma, and a lingering aftertaste. How do you brew Mansong tribute tea?

How to Brew Mansong Tribute Tea

First, Prepare the Equipment

A 150ML (ML = milliliters) white porcelain covered bowl, a pitcher, tasting cups, and a kettle for boiling water. (For new tea, we recommend using a covered bowl for brewing, though a Purple Clay Teapot can also be used.)

Second, Prepare the Tea

Use 7 grams of Mansong tea. Tea lovers who prefer a lighter taste may use 6.5 grams (those who prefer a stronger taste can adjust accordingly).

Generally, for a 120ML Cup, use around 6 grams of tea; for a 150ML covered bowl, use about 7 grams; for a 250ML covered bowl, use 9-10 grams.

Third, Brewing Process

Due to the tenderness of Spring Tea, the water temperature for brewing should not be too high, ideally between 93°C—96°C.

① Warm the Cups: Pour boiling water into the medium-sized white porcelain covered bowl, tasting cups, and pitcher to rinse them once.

② Add the Tea: Place 7 grams of Mansong tea into the 150-milliliter white porcelain covered bowl.

③ Rinse the Tea: Pour 92°C hot water into the covered bowl containing the tea, rinse the tea once, and pour out the water immediately.

For the first to fourth infusions, pour 93°C hot water into the covered bowl, use a high and circular pouring technique, and pour out the tea immediately without letting it steep.

For the fifth to eighth infusions, pour 96°C hot water into the covered bowl, use a high and pinpoint pouring technique, and let each infusion steep for 15-30 seconds.

After the eighth infusion, use a water temperature of 96°C or higher, pour low and pinpoint, and let each infusion steep for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

After the twelfth infusion, let each infusion steep for more than 1 minute.

④ Serve the Tea: Pour the tea soup into the tasting cups and enjoy the tea.

The Taste of Mansong Tribute Tea

The first and second infusions of Mansong tea have a pale color like water, and their appearance might not impress at first glance. However, when you taste the tea, you will find the soup extremely delicate and smooth, with a light and sweet flavor as if drinking honey water, without any bitterness or astringency. After one sip, the drinker's face is filled with surprise; many who judge the tea by its color dare not believe their taste buds. A faint fragrance enters the nose when you sniff the bottom of the cup. Looking at the infused leaves, you see a yellow-green color, with plump buds and tender leaves. Starting from the third infusion, the color deepens, and the richness becomes more evident. From the fourth to fifth infusions, there is a slight astringency, but this quickly fades, leaving a long-lasting sweetness. At the tenth infusion, the tea reaches its peak, with a full-bodied and viscous soup, a bright yellow color, and the most pronounced bitterness and astringency, followed by the strongest sweetness. After the tenth infusion, the bitterness and astringency gradually fade, leaving only sweetness. When the color becomes pale again like water, the tea has reached the end of its brewing cycle. Although there is still sweetness, it is no longer recommended to continue drinking. At this point, the host and guests put down their cups, still savoring the experience.