Pu'er tea, the king of tea for thousands of years, is famous for its unique aged aroma and rich flavor. Pu'er tea is an indispensable beverage, whether you are a group of friends gathering to sip tea, or enjoying a quiet time alone. However, the brewing method of Pu-erh tea is quite delicate. Different years and grades of Pu-erh tea need to be brewed in different ways in order to better release its aroma and flavor. Today, we'll share a guide to brewing Puerh tea to help you savor the best flavor of Puerh tea.
Brewing Preparation
To brew Pu'er tea, you first need to prepare the right tea set. Common Puerh tea utensils include:
- Covered Bowl: Covered bowl brewing is the most common way to brew Puerh tea, which can better show the aroma and flavor of the tea soup.
- Purple clay pots: Purple clay pots have good air permeability, which can adsorb the impurities in the tea and make the tea soup more mellow.
- Glass: Glass cups allow you to visualize the color of the tea broth, making it easy to appreciate the color of the tea broth.
In addition, other aids such as tea leaves, hot water, and tea towels need to be prepared.
Pu'er Tea Brewing Method
The brewing method of Puerh tea is mainly divided into the following steps:
- lit. warm cups and scalp marigolds: Running the tea set over boiling water not only raises the temperature of the tea set, but also removes any odors from the tea set.
- throw in tea (esp. for tea leaves): According to the size of the tea set and personal preference, put the right amount of Puerh tea into the tea set. Generally speaking, the amount of tea to be put into the gaiwan and zisha pot is about 1/3 of the capacity of the tea set, and the amount of tea to be put into the glass cup can be slightly less.
- brewing: Boiling water is slowly poured along the rim of the gaiwan or zisha pot to allow the tea leaves to fully unfold. For the first brewing, the tea can be quickly poured out, known as "tea washing".
- sip: Choose the right steeping time according to your personal preference, then pour the tea into a cup and sip.
Difference between brewing raw tea and ripe tea
Puerh tea can be divided into two types: raw tea and ripe tea. Raw tea is colder in nature, characterized by fresh aroma and sweetness; ripe tea is warmer in nature, characterized by mellowness and sweetness. When brewing, raw tea and ripe tea require different methods.
- raw tea: The brewing water temperature of raw tea is usually controlled at around 90-95℃, and the steeping time can be adjusted according to personal preference, usually 1-5 minutes.
- mature teaThe brewing water temperature of ripe tea can be slightly higher, generally controlled at about 95-100℃, and the steeping time can be slightly longer, generally 5-10 minutes.
Tips for Brewing Puerh Tea
- The longer the aging time of Pu-erh tea, the milder its tea nature becomes, so Pu-erh tea with longer aging time can be brewed with slightly lower water temperature.
- Pu-erh tea is more resistant to brewing and can be brewed several times. Generally speaking, the same piece of Puerh tea can be brewed 7-8 times.
- Pu-erh tea should not be consumed on an empty stomach, and is best consumed after meals.
The brewing method of Puerh tea may seem simple, but it actually contains a lot of knowledge. Only by mastering the correct brewing method can you better taste the aroma and flavor of Puerh tea. I hope this article can help you better understand the brewing method of Puerh tea, and fall in love with the unique tea culture of Puerh tea.
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