Tea enthusiasts often believe that tea leaves should be brewed until they develop color to taste smooth and to avoid wasting the nutrients inside. But is this the truth? Let the data speak. Professor Ma Zhaoli from the Qingdao University Chemical Experiment Center once conducted a test: using Tieguanyin as a sample, he accurately weighed 8 grams of tea leaves with an electronic balance and poured boiling distilled water over them. Samples of the tea soup brewed for 20 seconds, 40 seconds, 60 seconds, and 80 seconds were taken separately, and a spectrophotometer was used to measure the solution's absorbance, thereby determining the content of three main nutrients: tea polyphenols, amino acids, and vitamin C.
In other words, if you want to fully absorb the nutritional components from this Tieguanyin sample tea, brewing for about sixty seconds is the best time. Additionally, Professor Ma also found that using 100-degree Celsius boiling water for brewing extracts the most nutrients from the tea leaves. As the number of brewing cycles increases, the nutritional content in the tea water also decreases. After the sixth brew,
, the nutritional content of these tea infusions is almost no different from plain boiled water. However, with such a short brewing time, the flavor of the tea becomes much lighter. Doesn't that mean we can't fully enjoy the aroma of the tea leaves? Let's hear what tea experts have to say.
Experts tell us that the previous experimental results only apply to that specific Tieguanyin tea sample taken at the time. Different teas require different brewing methods. Even for Tieguanyin tea, varying quality levels can yield different data. But overall, the brewing time should not be too long. The first infusion is best at 30-60 seconds, with each subsequent infusion extended by 10 to 20 seconds. Mastering this technique is key to achieving a perfect combination of color, aroma, taste, and essence in a cup of tea. Which type of tea suits which kind of person is also very particular. For instance, in cold weather like now, it's best not to drink green tea, which is considered cooling in nature, as it may not only make you feel colder but could also harm the stomach. Furthermore, during this season, all tea types should be brewed with high-temperature water above 95 degrees Celsius and consumed while hot.
