Puerh tea has a unique position in the tea world and is categorized into two main types: raw and ripe. Whether you are a novice or a veteran tea drinker, understanding how to properly brew Puerh tea is an essential skill. This article will detail how to brew Puerh raw and ripe tea, so you can make great tasting Puerh tea at home.
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What is Puerh Tea Raw and Ripe Tea?
raw tea
Puerh raw tea is made using natural fermentation. Its tea leaves are pressed directly into cakes after being sun-dried, kneaded and sun-dried, and the longer it is preserved, the mellower the flavor. Raw tea has a high content of tea polyphenols, a fresh taste with a light floral and fruity aroma, and a lighter color of tea broth, pale yellow or golden yellow.
mature tea
Puerh ripe tea is made through artificial fermentation. The fermentation process allows the tea leaves to gradually transform and become mild. Ripe tea has a reddish-brown tea broth and a mellow flavor with a unique aroma of aging and wood. Because of its mildness, ripe tea is suitable for drinking all year round, especially in winter.
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Brewing method of Puerh Tea Raw Tea
preliminary
- Tea Set Selection: Purple clay pots, covered bowls or glass pots are recommended. Purple clay pots retain the aroma of tea better, while covered bowls and glass pots are convenient for observing the changes of tea leaves in water.
- Tea dosage: Generally take 8-10 grams of tea. The exact amount can be adjusted according to personal taste.
- temperature of the body of water: Raw tea requires a higher water temperature, preferably using boiling water at 90-95 degrees Celsius.
Procedure for making tea
- Warm the cup to wake up the tea: Rinse the tea set with boiling water to serve as a warming cup. Meanwhile, place the tea leaves in a gaiwan or zisha pot and brew with a small amount of hot water for 5-10 seconds, then pour it out quickly. This step is called awakening the tea, which can stimulate the aroma of the tea leaves.
- Formal brewing: Fill a covered bowl or Zisha kettle with boiling water at 90-95°C. The first brewing time is 10-15 seconds. The time for each subsequent brew can be gradually increased by 5-10 seconds each time.
- sip: Each infusion should be poured out to ensure that the tea leaves are evenly steeped. When tasting, first smell the aroma of the tea, then take a small sip to slowly experience the freshness and sweetness of raw tea.
Puerh Tea Ripe Tea Brewing Method
preliminary
- Tea Set Selection: It is also recommended to use purple clay pots, gai bowls or glass pots. Ripe tea is mild after fermentation, and purple clay pots can keep the heat in better.
- Tea dosage: The amount of ripe tea is the same as that of raw tea, usually 8-10 grams.
- temperature of the body of water: Ripe tea requires slightly less water temperature, but still needs boiling water around 95℃.
Procedure for making tea
- Warm the cup to wake up the tea: Rinse the tea set with hot water and place the tea leaves in a gaiwan or zisha pot and brew with a small amount of boiling water for 5-10 seconds before pouring. This not only removes the floating dust from the tea leaves, but also awakens the aroma of the tea.
- Formal brewing: The first brewing time is 10-15 seconds, and then the time for each subsequent brew is gradually increased by 5-10 seconds each time. During the brewing process, the color of ripe tea will gradually deepen.
- sip: The tea broth of each brew should be poured out completely to avoid over-steeping of the tea leaves, which leads to bitter tea broth. When you sip it, you can feel the unique aged aroma and thick taste of ripe tea.
Tips for making tea
- Selection of water quality: The choice of water quality is very important when brewing Puerh tea. It is best to use mineral water or pure water and avoid hard water that contains more minerals.
- Tea Set Maintenance: Regularly clean your tea set, especially your Zisha pots, don't use detergent, just rinse with water and dry naturally.
- Tea Preservation: Pu-erh tea should be stored in a dry, ventilated and odorless place, avoiding direct sunlight. It is best to store raw tea and ripe tea separately to avoid cascading flavors.
Different stages of the tasting experience
raw tea
Newborn tea has a distinctive botanical aroma and strong stimulation, suitable for tea lovers who like strong taste. As the storage time increases, the bitterness and astringency of the raw tea will diminish, and the tea broth becomes mellower and richer in aroma.
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mature tea
New ripe tea will have some heap flavor after fermentation, after leaving it for some time, the heap flavor will disappear and the tea soup will be clearer. Aged ripe tea has a strong aroma and smooth taste with light fruity and woody flavor, which is very suitable for daily drinking.
concluding remarks
Whether it is raw tea or ripe tea, each type of Puerh tea has its own unique charm. Mastering the correct brewing method is the only way to fully experience the flavor of Puerh tea. During the process of tea brewing, you may want to try different brewing times and amounts of tea leaves to find the most suitable flavor for you. I hope this article can help you better understand how to brew Puerh tea and enjoy the tranquility and comfort that each cup of tea brings.
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