Choosing Quality Puerh Ripe Tea
The quality of tea leaves is the foundation for brewing a good pot of tea. Puerh ripe tea is categorized into different grades and vintages, and usually the longer the vintage, the mellower the taste. Of course, newbies can choose some mid-range ripe teas with an approachable taste first, and then try the high-year aged ripe teas after they have more experience.
(Image source: Internet, deleted)
Preparation: Tea set and water quality
There are many choices of tea tools for brewing Puerh ripe tea, and purple clay pots, covered bowls and glass pots are all good choices. Purple clay pots have good heat preservation and are suitable for long-term tea brewing; covered bowls are easy to operate and are suitable for novices; and glass pots allow you to visualize the changes of the tea leaves in the water.
The quality of water also has a great impact on the tea broth. Generally speaking, mountain spring water and purified water are the best choices for tea brewing, as they contain the right amount of minerals to better stimulate the aroma and flavor of the tea. Tap water can also be used if it has been filtered and treated.
(Image source: Internet, deleted)
Moistening Tea: Awakening the Sleeping Tea Leaves
Moistening is the first step in brewing Puerh ripe tea, also known as "tea washing". First use boiling water to wash the tea set once, then take the right amount of tea leaves into the tea set, use boiling water to brew, and quickly pour it out. This process not only removes the dust and impurities on the surface of the tea leaves, but also awakens the tea leaves and releases the initial aroma.
Brewing: master the water temperature and time
Water temperature is very important when brewing Puerh ripe tea. Puerh ripe tea needs to be brewed with boiling water so as to better release the flavors in the tea. The first steeping time should not be too long, about 10 seconds to get out of the soup, so as to avoid the tea soup from being too strong. The time for the second and third infusions can be slightly extended to about 20 seconds, and then gradually increase by about 10 seconds for each subsequent infusion.
(Image source: Internet, deleted)
In terms of the number of times of brewing, Puerh ripe tea can be brewed many times, usually up to 10 or even more. As the number of times of brewing increases, the color and taste of the tea broth will gradually change from strong to mellow, with each brew providing a different experience.
Tea Tasting: Feel the Changes in Every Sip
Tea tasting is a kind of enjoyment, and every sip of tea broth contains the story of the tea leaves. Puerh ripe tea has a deep red color, rich aroma, mellow and smooth taste, and long sweet aftertaste. When tasting tea, you can slowly savor the changes of the tea broth in your mouth, from the bitterness of the first mouth to the sweetness of the aftertaste, each sip can bring different feelings.
Storage: Keeping Tea Fresh
Puerh ripe tea has the characteristic that the more it ages, the more fragrant it is, but improper storage will affect the quality of the tea. When storing Puerh ripe tea, you should choose a dry, cool and ventilated environment, avoiding direct sunlight and humidity. You can store the tea in containers with good air permeability, such as purple sand jar and ceramic jar, to keep the tea dry and fragrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is tea bitter?It may be because the tea brewing time is too long, or the amount of tea leaves is too much. You can shorten the brewing time and reduce the amount of tea leaves.
- Why is the aroma of the tea broth insufficient?This could be because the water is not hot enough, or the tea is of a lower quality. Try brewing with boiling water or replacing the tea with a quality one.
- Why are there impurities in the tea making process?It may be because the tea leaves have not been moistened, or the water quality is not good. You can moisten the tea before brewing and use filtered pure water.
Summarize: the key to brewing a good pot of Puerh ripe tea
Brewing a good pot of Puerh ripe tea requires attention to a number of aspects, from choosing tea leaves, preparing tea utensils and water quality, to moistening, brewing and tasting the tea, each step should not be neglected. After mastering the correct method of brewing tea, you will be able to fully experience the unique charm of Puerh ripe tea. Hopefully, through this article, you can learn how to brew a pot of Puerh ripe tea with rich aroma and mellow flavor, and enjoy the good time brought by tea.
English 
Chinese 
