Many people have the habit of drinking tea, especially in dry weather. Drinking tea in time to replenish water can not only adjust our physical state but also quench thirst and calm the mind, making it a very healthy choice. However, not just any cup can brew all good teas—there is much讲究 (particularity) involved! Follow me for an in-depth study!
Brewing tea is a habit many friends have, but many are unfamiliar with the choice of cups and unsure which type is best for brewing tea. So, which kind of cup is truly health-preserving for brewing tea?
The choice of tea-brewing cup is very important. A good cup can help bring out the health benefits of tea. Therefore, the following will introduce related questions about which cups are health-preserving for brewing tea, hoping the information below will be helpful.
For many, the first thing after starting work is to brew a cup of tea. Among them, quite a few people love using insulated cups: fill it with hot water, add a handful of tea leaves, screw on the lid, and enjoy warm tea all day. In fact, this practice reduces the health benefits of tea and also ruins its flavor.
Tea is rich in various nutrients, such as multiple vitamins, minerals, and pharmacologically active components like tea polyphenols, caffeine, and tannins. However, these nutrients are sensitive to sustained high temperatures. When tea leaves are steeped in high-temperature water for a long time, the tea liquor becomes dark and more bitter. Aromatic compounds evaporate faster, causing the tea soup to lose its应有的 (proper) aroma. Tannic acid and theophylline easily leach out in large amounts, reducing its nutritional value. Vitamin C and others suffer significant loss in environments above 80°C, correspondingly diminishing the tea's health functions.
Furthermore, brewing tea with enamelware is also inadvisable. Enamel tea sets wear out easily with use, exposing the iron base. Metal components can then dissolve into the tea, turning it yellowish and altering its original flavor. Additionally, enamelware dissipates and conducts heat quickly, causing the tea aroma to scatter easily.
Therefore, to enjoy a cup of healthful, aromatic hot tea, it is best to brew it using a purple clay pot or ceramic tea set. You can brew the tea first and then pour the tea liquor into an insulated cup. This method keeps it warm for a longer time while compensating for the loss of nutrients.
It should be noted that different teas require different water temperatures for brewing. Generally, water at 70-80°C is suitable. Teas like Maojian, Longjing, and Biluochun prefer 70-80°C water; Tieguanyin, Oolong tea, and post-fermented Pu'er favor higher temperatures of 90-100°C; for brewing black tea, water at 80-90°C can be used.
An ancient saying goes: "Tea derives its essence from water, water relies on the vessel." This statement不难看出 (easily shows) the importance of tea sets in tea drinking. Good tea, good water, and a good tea-drinking environment构成 (constitute) the overall setting for savoring tea. If complemented with a fine tea set, the process of enjoying tea becomes ultimately perfect. Those exquisite tea sets bring us joy and a certain ambiance while drinking tea. When choosing tea sets, we generally follow the basic requirements of being able to brew and drink, prioritizing practicality and convenience. On this foundation, we then consider aspects like color, shape, and decoration. When selecting a tea set, both its color and texture should align with the characteristics of the tea, with the principle of maximizing the expression of the tea's quality. With this general direction, adjustments can be made based on personal preferences regarding color, shape, etc. So, is there a basic pairing principle for what kind of tea set matches what kind of tea? The answer is yes. Below are recommendations for different tea sets based on various types of tea.
1. Green Tea: Transparent glass cups without patterns, or white porcelain, celadon, blue-and-white porcelain liddess cups, etc., can be used. Plain glass cups are最佳 (the best) because such tea ware allows better appreciation of the shape and color of the green tea.
2. Yellow Tea: Creamy white porcelain, yellow-glazed porcelain, and五彩瓷 (polychrome porcelain) pots, cups, covered bowls, and lidded cups in yellow and orange tones can be chosen. These can make the tea's color appear more vibrant.
3. White Tea: White porcelain pots and cups, or黑瓷 (black porcelain) tea sets with a strong contrast like black-glazed interiors, can be used to highlight the tea's white hairs (pekoe).
4. Black Tea: Purple clay tea sets with white glaze inside, white porcelain, red-glazed porcelain pots, covered bowls, lidded cups, etc., can be chosen. These better accentuate the agate-like color of black tea.
5. Oolong Tea: White porcelain pots, covered bowls, lidded cups, or purple clay tea sets can be chosen. They complement the tea's color and concentrate its aroma.
6. Dark Tea (Hei Cha): Purple clay pots, white porcelain cups, or飘逸杯 (easy-go infusers) and other tea sets can be chosen.
7. Flower Tea (Scented Tea): Celadon, blue-and-white porcelain, famille-rose porcelain pots, covered bowls, lidded cups, etc., can be chosen. Because flower tea is a type that requires闷泡 (covered steeping), the lid helps gather the aroma. When the lid is lifted, the fragrance bursts forth, best体现 (demonstrating) the quality of the flower tea.
Following the above principles, pairing tea sets with different types of tea can better set off the tea's color, shape, and aroma, making the tea-tasting process近乎完美 (almost perfect). Tea sets come in various shapes, numerous colors, and exquisite, unique designs, adding indispensable charm to tea drinking. It is believed that everyone can appreciate the visual enjoyment brought by tea sets in their daily tea drinking.