It is well known among Tea enthusiasts that the best way to brew tea is with a purple clay pot, but which pot to use and how to brew it often confounds many tea lovers.

In fact, there are some nuances when it comes to brewing different teas in a purple clay pot. Today, let's talk about brewing the six major types of tea in a purple clay pot.

Green Tea

Common green teas include “Biluochun, West Lake Longjing, Mengding Ganlu,” etc.

For green tea, a purple clay pot made from “duan clay or green clay” is best. The color is light and the breathability is excellent, which is beneficial for nurturing the pot and prevents the formation of black tea scale, thus preserving the beauty of the purple clay pot.

During the brewing process, it is important to note that boiling water should not be used. The ideal water temperature is 80°C~85°C, and the tea-to-water ratio should be 1:50. The optimal brewing time is 2-3 minutes. The resulting tea will have a clear, bright green color and should be consumed immediately after brewing.

Oolong Tea (Qingcha)

Oolong tea is one of the six major types of Chinese tea and is semi-fermented, such as “Tieguanyin, Dahongpao,” etc.

“The best water is from a stone spring, the best stove is fueled by charcoal, and the best teapot is small.”

The most suitable type of purple clay pot for brewing oolong tea is one made from “zhuni or red clay.” A small pot is preferable. Zhuni and red clay have high crystallization degrees, which help to extract the aroma quickly and enhance its intensity, making them perfect for highly fragrant teas like oolong.

Use boiling water at 95°C for brewing. The amount of leaves used is relatively large, usually about half or more of the capacity of the pot or Gaiwan. Cover the pot after brewing. The brewing time should start short and gradually increase, ideally 2-5 minutes per infusion.

Huang Tea (Yellow Tea)

Huang tea is a lightly fermented tea, including “Mengding Huangya, Junshan Yinzhen, Weishan Maojian,” etc.

A purple clay pot made from “purple clay” is best for huang tea. It does not overpower the tea's aroma and is suitable for brewing this type of tea. Purple clay has a broad range of compatibility with various teas and performs well in enhancing their flavors.

The optimal brewing time for the first infusion is 30 seconds, extended to 60 seconds for the second infusion, and further extended to approximately 2 minutes for the third infusion, resulting in a better tasting tea soup.

Black Tea

Black tea is fully fermented, such as “Keemun Black Tea, Red Striped Tea, and Broken Black Tea,” etc.

A purple clay pot made from “purple clay or zhuni” is best for brewing black tea, as it enhances both the aroma and the original taste, creating a distinct layering of flavors.

Use freshly boiled water for brewing. The ideal brewing time is 3-5 minutes. High-quality Keemun Black Tea can be brewed 3-4 times, while broken black tea can be brewed 1-2 times.

Dark Tea, Pu'er

“Dark tea, Pu'er tea” are appreciated for their characteristic of improving with age, and are therefore popular among tea enthusiasts.

A purple clay pot made from “purple clay or dicaoqing” is best for brewing these teas, as it enhances the full-bodied flavor.

The first infusion is used to Rinse the tea and remove impurities. Subsequent infusions typically last 2-3 minutes.

White Tea

White tea includes “Silver Needle, White Peony, Quancheng Hong, Quancheng Green, Gongmei, Shoumei, and new white tea,” etc.

A purple clay pot made from “zhuni or red clay” is best for white tea. The tea soup has a slightly golden hue, with a fresh and refreshing aroma, making zhuni the best choice.

White tea requires fine and tender ingredients, so the water temperature for brewing should not be too high, generally around 85-90°C being ideal.

After reading about these six major types of tea, do you now have a better understanding of which type of purple clay pot is suitable for each? Generally speaking, pots made from purple clay have a broad range of compatibility and can be used for many types of tea, so there's no need to worry about using the wrong type.