As a top-notch contender in the Tea world, Pu'er tea not only excels in its inner qualities but also transforms endlessly in its outer appearance.
As the forms of Pu'er tea continue to evolve, shapes such as bricks, cakes, tuans, and tos have emerged, along with many Pu'er teas being crafted into tea beads.
Perhaps due to their striking and beautiful appearance, these beads have been given a charming name: Dragon Beads.
Pu'er Dragon Beads are round and “playful,” unlike regular loose or cake teas where the method of brewing is familiar to many. The unique shape of Pu'er Dragon Beads can sometimes make it challenging to brew them properly.
Often, after several infusions, the leaves remain tightly embraced and unwilling to separate, or the Steeping time is too long, resulting in an unappealing concentration and flavor…
The most frustrating part is that many Dragon Beads are made from high-end, premium Pu'er teas.
It seems essential to understand the proper way to handle Pu'er Dragon Beads.
How are Dragon Beads Made?
The difference in the production process of Pu'er Dragon Beads lies solely in the shaping stage.
Typically, a single Dragon Bead uses 5-8 grams of material. After steaming the raw tea to soften it, it is placed in a cloth, and by hand, the tea leaves are kneaded into a fixed bead shape, then tied, air-dried, and finally naturally dried in the shade.
Dragon Beads are small and round, not quite as large as a tuan, yet full and lustrous like a pearl.
Most Pu'er Dragon Beads are made from the buds and one leaf of ancient or large trees, often using pure materials and pure buds, thus generally having high quality.
The creation of Dragon Beads mostly relies on manual labor, and the process of kneading them is time-consuming and labor-intensive. It is said that even a skilled tea maker, working non-stop from morning to night, can only produce about eight hundred Dragon Beads.
Thus, crafting a perfect Dragon Bead is quite a time-consuming and laborious task.
What Are the Benefits of Dragon Beads?
Given the labor-intensive production process, why has the form of Pu'er Dragon Beads become increasingly popular?
Let's delve into the advantages of Pu'er tea when shaped into these round and lustrous pearls.
Advantage One: Avoiding the Hassle and Embarrassment of Breaking Tea Cakes.
Imagine sitting at a beautiful tea table surrounded by “spectators.” As you attempt to break off some tea with a tea needle, you fumble, causing the tea to shatter and scatter, leaving broken pieces. How awkward!
Plus, there's the additional hassle of weighing the tea.
When brewing a Dragon Bead, however, you're in luck. You simply open the packaging paper, and with a gentle sound, the bead drops into the pot, creating a serene and delightful moment.
Advantage Two: No Waste of Precious Tea.
Generally, one Dragon Bead is the amount needed for one session of tea.
There's no loss from breaking the tea during the process, and the leaves remain intact without any breakage, ensuring that not a bit of precious tea is wasted. They sit neatly, awaiting the warmth of water.
Advantage Three: Easy Storage and Portability.
Unlike cakes or bricks that require significant storage space, these small and flexible beads can be easily combined and arranged. They fit comfortably in large tea jars or small tea bags.
For tea lovers who occasionally travel, a few beads can be conveniently taken along, allowing them to enjoy tea freely on the go.
Advantage Four: Spreading the Cost of High-Priced Teas.
Want to enjoy a cup of premium ancient tree tea but hesitate at the price of a cake (357 grams)?
Then consider purchasing Dragon Beads made from the same high-quality material.
Taste the luxurious flavors at a manageable cost; if you don't like it, you won't lose much.
How to Brew Dragon Beads?
Sometimes, the most daunting challenge is dealing with these smooth, round objects, where the leaves are tightly intertwined, sometimes even knotted, making it unclear how to brew them.
To brew Dragon Beads, the choice of vessel is crucial.
Dragon Beads are indeed very compact and difficult to unfurl, so we do not recommend using a common Gaiwan, as it does not retain heat well and cannot maintain a consistently high temperature, which is necessary to release the essence of the Dragon Beads.
The ideal vessel for Dragon Beads is a purple clay teapot, as it retains heat well and is breathable, allowing the Dragon Beads to easily unfurl without spoiling the tea.
Before brewing, remember to rinse the tea.
This step ensures that the tea leaves are fully moistened and prepared for the subsequent unfolding.
However, avoid directly pouring hot water over the Dragon Beads or using excessively hot water for rinsing.
The correct method is to pour lukewarm water (around 50-60 degrees Celsius) from the edge of the teapot, completely immersing the Dragon Beads. After 30-40 seconds or once you see the leaves start to unfold, pour out the rinse water.
Depending on the characteristics of the Dragon Beads, you may rinse/wake up the tea again before proceeding to the actual brewing.
But always control the speed, using a high-speed, low-frequency method for the first few infusions. Once the Dragon Beads have fully unfolded and separated, you can continue brewing as usual.
Brewing Dragon Beads this way results in a well-balanced flavor, neither too strong nor too weak.
Original article published in “Pu'er” magazine, July 2020 issue
Author: Ya Ran Wang
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