As the saying goes, "firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea," although tea is listed last, it is something many people cannot do without. How to brew tea for a better taste? Depending on the variety of tea leaves, the brewing method varies slightly.

Green Tea

Brew with water at 80°C~85°C, and drink immediately after brewing. Green tea is an unfermented tea, common examples include West Lake Longjing and Biluochun. This type of tea is relatively delicate and should not be brewed with freshly boiled water. A temperature of 80°C~85°C is suitable, with a tea-to-water ratio of 1:50, and a brewing time of 2~3 minutes. It is best to brew and drink immediately. If the brewing temperature is too high or the time is too long, polyphenols will be destroyed, the tea soup will turn yellow, and aromatic substances will volatilize and dissipate.

It is best to brew green tea in a porcelain cup. When brewing, first use 1/4 of the water to moisten the tea leaves, wait 20 seconds or half a minute, then add water and drink. Generally, do not cover the lid when brewing green tea, otherwise the tea soup will turn yellow.

Black Tea

First, scald the cup with hot water, then brew with boiling water. Black tea is a fully fermented tea, common types include high-grade Gongfu black tea strips and broken black tea. Unlike green tea, high water temperature promotes the dissolution of beneficial components. Therefore, it is best to brew black tea with freshly boiled water. The water amount is similar to that for green tea, and the brewing time is 3~5 minutes. High-grade Gongfu black tea strips can be brewed 3~4 times, while broken black tea can be brewed 1~2 times.

Black tea is best brewed in a glass cup to appreciate the leaves rolling and unfolding in the water. The method involves the "middle infusion" technique: first pour about 1/10 of hot water into the cup to scald it, then add 3~5 grams of tea leaves, and finally pour water along the glass wall to brew. When brewing black tea, cover the lid to enhance the aroma.

Oolong Tea

Brew multiple times with boiling water. Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea, such as Tieguanyin and Dahongpao. When brewing oolong tea, keep a kettle of boiling water nearby. Once the water boils, brew immediately. The first infusion should be discarded, and the discarded water can be used to moisten all cups. Then pour boiling water again and drink. Oolong tea can be brewed multiple times, with high-quality leaves lasting 7~8 infusions. Each infusion time should increase gradually, typically 2~5 minutes.

It is best to brew oolong tea in a professional purple clay pot or a covered bowl. The water must be at 100°C. The leaf amount is relatively large, usually half or more of the pot or bowl, and the lid should be covered after brewing.

Dark Tea

First rinse the tea, then brew with boiling water. Dark tea is a post-fermented tea that can naturally age over time during storage, and within a certain period, it becomes more aromatic with age. When brewing dark tea, use 100°C boiling water. For the first brew, quickly rinse the tea for 10~20 seconds: place the tea leaves in the cup, pour boiling water, then discard the water after a short time, and pour boiling water again, covering the lid. This not only filters out impurities but also makes the tea soup more fragrant. Subsequent brewing times are usually 2~3 minutes.

Dark tea is generally brewed with specialized tea ware, such as purple clay pots or covered bowls. The leaf amount is typically twice that of green tea.

Finally, it is worth noting that to preserve the aroma of the tea, it is best to use "soft water" with low metal ion content, such as purified water or high-quality mineral water.