Many think that brewing green Tea simply involves adding hot water, but there are actually specific techniques. When brewing Green Tea, should you put the leaves in first or pour the water first?
Those who know about tea understand that green tea has specific requirements for water temperature.
However, many tea enthusiasts tend to use the bottom placement method when brewing green tea.
Some may not be familiar with this term. Today, let's learn about the three placement methods and which one is best for commonly consumed green teas.
The Three Placement Methods for Brewing Tea
1. The order of placing tea matters
When brewing tea, do you put the leaves in first or pour the water first? Or do you pour some water, add the leaves, and then pour more water? These questions might seem trivial, but different types of green tea require different placement methods.
2. Top Placement Method: Pour water first, then add the tea, letting it slowly sink
This method is suitable for heavier-bodied, bud-rich teas like Biluochun and Xinyang Maojian. Due to their weight, the leaves will naturally sink after being added to the water, gradually releasing their flavor components. The tea fuzz on the surface will also slowly disperse in the water, resulting in a fresh and flavorful brew without making the tea look cloudy due to excessive fuzz.
3. Middle Placement Method: Pour water to fill about one-third of the container, then add the tea, wait for it to soak, and then pour more water
The middle placement method is typically used for brewing teas like Longjing. First, fill the cup about one-third full with boiled water and allow it to cool to around 80°C. Then, place the tea leaves into the cup and pour the remaining water from one side of the rim. This method helps control the water temperature, ensuring that the delicate green tea does not become bitter due to overheating.
4. Bottom Placement Method: Put the tea in first, then pour the water
Teas like Taiping Houkui and Lu'an Guapian are better suited to the bottom placement method. Their leaves are not particularly tender and are quite large, so to achieve a fuller flavor, it's best to place the tea in the cup before pouring the water.
The Water Temperature for Brewing Green Tea
Many tea enthusiasts use the same method for brewing fermented teas when they brew green tea, directly using boiling water. However, water temperature significantly affects the taste and quality of green tea.
Green tea is made from new leaves and tender buds, and overly hot water can overcook the leaves, altering their chemical composition and causing loss of nutrients, which negatively impacts the nutritional value and taste of the tea. Therefore, the ideal water temperature for brewing green tea is around 80°C, which helps preserve the nutritional components of the tea leaves.
The Utensils for Brewing Green Tea
The choice of utensil also plays a significant role in enhancing the flavor of the tea. For brewing green tea, glass utensils are recommended as they help showcase the original flavor and aroma of the tea.
Storing Green Tea
As temperatures rise, storing tea becomes challenging. Opened tea can easily spoil, making tea cans essential. There are various materials available for tea cans, such as wood, ceramic, stainless steel, and purple clay.
Purple clay tea cans are often referred to as “magical storage vessels” by industry insiders. Indeed, compared to other materials, purple clay tea cans have better breathability, which aids in the aging process of the tea. They are especially suitable for storing green tea, Pu'er tea, white tea, and dark tea.