What characteristics should good water have?

Water is to tea what water is to fish. "Fish become active in water, while tea reveals its aroma, color, and flavor through water." Therefore, since ancient times, tea enthusiasts have been fascinated by water for brewing tea. Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty stated in "The Classic of Tea": "For water, mountain spring water is best, river water is average, and well water is inferior." Generally, water that meets the five standards of "clear, light, sweet, cool, and active" is considered good water for brewing tea.

Clear

The water quality must be clear. Clear water means it is free from impurities, colorless, transparent, and without sediment, best revealing the true nature of tea.

Light

The water should be light. The higher the specific gravity of water, the more minerals are dissolved. Experimental results show that when there is too much ferrous iron in the water, the tea soup becomes dark and the flavor weakens; when aluminum content is too high, the tea soup has a明显的苦涩味; when there are too many calcium ions, the tea soup tastes astringent. Therefore, lighter water is preferable.

Sweet

The water should taste sweet.所谓水甘 means that upon entering the mouth, the tip of the tongue immediately feels a sweet sensation. After swallowing, there is also a sweet and refreshing aftertaste in the throat. Using such water to brew tea naturally enhances the tea's flavor.

Cool

Cool means cold, as chilly water often comes from deep underground springs, suffering less pollution, and brewing tea with it results in a pure taste.

Active

The water source should be active. "Flowing water does not stagnate." Modern science proves that bacteria are less likely to繁殖 in flowing active water. Meanwhile, active water undergoes natural purification, with higher content of oxygen and carbon dioxide, making the brewed tea soup particularly fresh and pleasant. In tea sets, the filter and filter stand are a good pair, always appearing together. The filter is used to strain tea residues, and the filter stand is used to hold the filter. Filters are categorized by the material of the outer handle, including stainless steel, porcelain, pottery, bamboo, wood, and even gourd ladles. Based on the mesh material, there are aluminum and cloth surfaces, with cloth surfaces generally filtering more thoroughly.