Tea enthusiasts often use the first infusion to wash the tea. But is it true that all types of tea need to be washed, and how should it be done?

Recently, the question of whether tea leaves need to be washed has once again attracted attention and sparked discussions. The so-called “washing the tea” can also be referred to as awakening the tea or a moistening steep. In reality, it's not as mysterious or difficult to understand. It ultimately comes down to whether the first infusion of tea is drinkable or needs to be discarded.

Foam in the Tea is an Essence

Long ago, people noticed the foam that appeared when brewing tea and considered this “white foam” to be a kind of essence. Modern scientific research indicates that the first infusion releases a significant amount of nutrients. The foam in the first infusion contains tea saponins, which have good dispersion, foaming, and wetting properties, and also have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipermeability effects. Moreover, current standards for tea production are more stringent than before, resulting in cleaner and more hygienic tea. Therefore, many people choose not to wash their tea but instead drink the first infusion.

Washing Ensures Better Results

The process from tea bud to finished product involves multiple steps, including picking, sun-drying, withering, and more. During this process, some dust and impurities may adhere to the leaves. That's why many people discard the first infusion when brewing tea. However, it's worth noting that washing does not remove pesticide residues. Pesticide residues are lipophilic substances and do not dissolve in water, so the idea that washing can remove them is unreliable. Aside from removing dust and impurities, washing also moistens the leaves, allowing them to “awaken,” which helps them unfurl better and facilitates the extraction of aroma and flavor during subsequent infusions.

Specific Tea Types, Specific Washing

Chairman Mao famously said, “Specific problems require specific analysis.” Similarly, the decision to wash tea depends on the type of tea being brewed. Generally, Green Tea, white tea, and Yellow Tea do not need to be washed since they are not very resilient to multiple infusions. The first infusion of high-quality green tea is especially fresh and fragrant. For Black Tea, dark tea, and Oolong tea, washing is a necessary step. Compressed Pu'er tea and tightly rolled Tie Guan Yin benefit from a preliminary rinse, which helps to better extract their flavors during subsequent brewing.