Green Tea

Pu'er tea brewing is very particular; even the same tea can taste different depending on who brews it. We emphasize "brewing according to the tea," which means choosing a brewing method based on understanding the nature of the tea, a process that involves continuous learning and practice. This process is long and challenging. However, during this journey, we can start by learning about common mistakes to make the tea more enjoyable. Six Mistakes in Brewing Pu'er Tea 1. High and Fast Water Pouring The high and fast water pouring technique is suitable for Oolong tea, as it enhances its aroma. However, this method is not suitable for Pu'er tea. The rich contents of Pu'er tea can lead to an overly bitter and astringent initial infusion if the water is poured too quickly, resulting in a light and thin later infusion. The desired taste for Pu'er tea is characterized by a stable fragrance, soft and full-bodied flavor, and strong layering. The correct method is to pour water slowly and precisely, ensuring better coordination between the flavors of the early and later infusions. 2. Brutal Tea Cake Breaking If the tea cake is broken into pieces that are too small, too large,…...

"An ounce of tangerine peel is worth an ounce of gold." Many people recognize tangerine peel for its excellent properties in regulating qi and strengthening the spleen.However, did you know that tangerine peel can also moisten the lungs and dissolve phlegm? Tangerine Peel Has Many Benefits Tangerine peel is the dried mature peel of the fruit of Citrus reticulata and its cultivated varieties. It has a pungent, bitter, and warm nature and targets the spleen and lung meridians. It is effective in promoting the movement of qi to relieve fullness, drying dampness and transforming phlegm, as well as strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the middle. Tangerine peel is a prime example of a food and herb that can be used together. The Song Dynasty's "Medical Narratives" states: "Tangerine peel broadens the diaphragm and descends qi, eliminates phlegm and expels cold, with remarkable effects. Most herbs are more valuable when fresh, but this one is better when aged, and those from Dongting Lake are the best." For conditions such as poor appetite, nausea, abdominal distension, and constipation caused by stagnation of spleen qi, tangerine peel can be incorporated into meals. In treating coughs with cold or damp phlegm, tangerine peel also…...

The correct seven steps of tea brewing: boiling water, washing cups, placing tea, infusing, pouring tea, serving tea, savoring tea, drinking tea. The first step is to boil the water for brewing tea. The second step is to rinse the teaware with boiling water. The third step is to place the tea in the cup. The fourth step is to pour water into the cup to infuse the tea... 1. Warming the Cups First, boil a pot of water and then use the boiling water to rinse the teaware once. This not only serves the purpose of hygiene and cleanliness but also preheats the teaware so that the tea flavor is enhanced. Pour the boiling water into the fairness cup, tea cups, and aroma cups, and then discard it. 2. Placing the Tea Tea is divided into six categories, and there are even more varieties of tea. However, the amount of tea used varies greatly between each type. (Using an example of a 110ml gaiwan): To brew white tea, use 5 grams; To brew black tea, use 5 grams; To brew rock tea, use 8 grams; To brew raw pu-erh, use 8 grams. Place the tea you wish to brew…...

Brewing tea is a skillful task. The purpose of paying attention to brewing methods is to avoid the disadvantages of the tea and highlight its advantages, which can be described as making the most of its strengths while minimizing its weaknesses. If we pay attention to the brewing method, even if the green tea is of average quality, we can still optimize its taste; however, if we don't pay attention to the brewing method, even high-quality green tea will not deliver the taste that justifies its price. Brewing Methods for Green Tea 1. Top-Down Method: After warming and cleaning the teacup (teabowl), pour in hot water up to seven-tenths full at once, then wait until the water temperature is suitable before adding the tea leaves. This method is often used for finely processed green teas (such as Special Grade Biluochun, Special Grade Xinyang Maojian, and Mount Meng Ganlu). It is essential to control the water temperature accurately; the finer the tea, the lower the required water temperature. Some teas may need to be added when the water cools down to 70°C. Additionally, any tea brewed using this method can also be prepared using an ice-brewing method. 2. Middle-Down Method: After…...

Tea, a treasure of Chinese culture, has captivated countless people with its unique charm since ancient times. Among them, floral teas and reprocessed teas stand out for their distinctive flavors and production processes, becoming shining gems in tea culture. Today, let's embark on a journey into the world of floral and reprocessed teas to experience their allure and essence.Floral tea is a specialty beverage made by blending tea leaves with aromatic flowers. Among various floral teas, jasmine tea is particularly beloved for its fresh and elegant fragrance. The production process of jasmine tea is meticulous and labor-intensive, with each step embodying the wisdom and dedication of skilled artisans. Firstly, high-quality green tea is selected as the base and undergoes precise processing to retain its original freshness and flavor. Fresh jasmine flowers are then picked and layered with the tea leaves, allowing the tea to absorb the aroma of the jasmine fully. This scenting process requires multiple repetitions, with strict control over time and temperature to ensure perfect fusion between the tea and the flower’s fragrance. Finally, after careful scenting and roasting, jasmine tea is born. The flavor of jasmine tea is unique, combining the freshness of green tea with the…...

Every spring, all things revive, and after a winter of rest, tea trees vie with each other to stretch out their plump buds. "When the spring breeze arrives in February or March, it's time to light the stone stove and try the new tea." Without exception, the aroma of spring tea fills the air across the country. One: What is Spring Tea? Spring tea generally refers to the tea made from the shoots and leaves that sprout from the tea tree after its winter dormancy in the spring. Spring tea can be considered the first tea harvested in the year. Some people believe that "the earlier the better" for spring tea, but this concept is not entirely correct. The time for picking high-quality teas varies each year. For example, the first spring tea can be harvested from February to March, with Yibin, Sichuan starting around mid-February, and the Wenzhou area starting in the second half of February. The Jiangbei tea region typically harvests around the Qingming Festival. Therefore, it cannot be said that the earlier the spring tea, the better. In summary, based on specific harvesting periods, spring tea can be divided into four categories: the first picking tea, the…...

Black tea is the second largest category of teas in China and the most widely sold type of tea worldwide. The origin of black tea can be traced back to China, where it was first produced over 400 years ago during the Ming Dynasty by tea farmers in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, as Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong. In terms of processing techniques, due to differences in rolling methods and fresh leaf varieties, black tea can be classified into: Gongfu Black Tea, Xiao Zhong Black Tea, and Broken Black Tea. Xiao Zhong Black Tea is the oldest type of black tea, originally produced in Wuyi Mountain, and is also the progenitor of other black teas; Gongfu Black Tea comes in many varieties, produced in different regions, such as Qimen Gongfu Black Tea mainly produced in Qimen County, Anhui Province, and Dian Hong Gongfu from Yunnan Province; Broken Black Tea is produced across a wide range of areas and is primarily for export. Although there are different classifications of black tea, the basic process generally includes "withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying." As a fully fermented tea, the core and soul of black tea is its "fermentation," which is a critical step in…...

No matter what kind of tea you drink, it should be appropriate for the occasion, time, and person. Drinking the right type of tea can maximize its effects and provide excellent health benefits. Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes that people have different constitutions, being either hot or cold in nature. Teas, after undergoing various processing methods, also have cool and warm properties. Therefore, it is important to consider one's constitution when choosing a tea to drink. A chart showing the properties of the six types of tea. What is your constitution? Which type of tea suits you best? A table matching the nine constitutions with the six types of tea. Cool green tea Dragon Well from West Lake, Anji White Tea, Biluochun from Dongting, Lu'an Guapian, etc. Suitable for those with a hot constitution, high stomach fire, and abundant energy. Drinking this tea on a hot day or when feeling agitated provides a refreshing and cooling sensation. Green tea has good radiation protection effects, making it very suitable for people who work frequently on computers. Contraindications: People with liver disease should avoid drinking green tea, as caffeine is metabolized by the liver, and excessive tea consumption can damage liver function. Pregnant…...

Main pests in autumn tea gardens and their control measures. The weather gradually cools down in September, with vigorous growth of tea plants and abundant food for pests, which is very conducive to the occurrence of pests such as mites and tea green leafhoppers. If not controlled in time, they can easily cause outbreaks that severely impact the yield and quality of next year's spring tea. The main pests occurring currently and their control measures are as follows: I. Tea Orange Spider Mite This pest is small in size, with adult and juvenile mites piercing and sucking tea plant sap. When mite numbers are low, the damage is not obvious and hard to detect. However, when mite numbers increase, the veins of affected leaves turn red, the leaves lose their green color and luster. Severe infestations result in a brown rust appearance on the underside of the leaves, withered and dried shoots and leaves, and a scorched appearance, and may even cause defoliation. Some tea gardens have experienced heavy infestations recently. Without effective control measures, mite populations will continue to rise. The following measures are recommended for control: 1. Strengthen garden management by removing weeds and fallen leaves. Timely picking…...

For many newcomers, there may indeed be some confusion. After all, the culture of purple clay has continued for hundreds of years, enduring and thriving, playing an increasingly important role in tea culture. This further illustrates that for tea drinkers, a purple clay pot is indispensable tea ware. Many seasoned tea enthusiasts have used purple clay pots from the beginning, and later even purchased dozens of various styles of Yixing purple clay pots. To those unfamiliar with purple clay pots, this may seem quite perplexing! Why do so many people like to brew tea using a purple clay pot? Why is Tea Brewed in a Purple Clay Pot Better? The most direct benefit is that it doesn’t get too hot to handle. Due to the nature of the material, a purple clay pot does not conduct heat easily. Also, because of the unique shape of the pot, one’s hand is less likely to touch the walls of the pot. A purple clay pot can absorb the aroma of tea. The unique material allows a frequently used clay pot to retain the tea fragrance, and the longer the pot is used, the stronger the tea scent it retains. A purple clay…...

Tea ware is often referred to as the father of tea, for it carries the essence of a cup of tea. The word "China" itself also means porcelain, and the West came to know China through its porcelain. Early pottery, bronze wares, later porcelains, and teaware made from materials like purple clay and glass were all adapted to the social productivity levels and brewing methods of their times. The complete set of gold and silver tea ware unearthed from the Famen Temple’s underground palace from the Tang Dynasty is breathtaking (multiple types of tea ware can also be seen in the painting “Night Banquet in the Tang Palace”). During Emperor Huizong's reign, tea competitions included the use of tea ware as an essential element, and Jian bowls, necessary for the tea-whisking method, became popular. Three of the Jian bowls (also known as Tenmoku bowls) that were brought to Japan are now considered national treasures there. The five famous kilns that produced tea ware are also world-renowned. The evolution of tea ware is a vast topic, but at its core, it cannot be separated from three words: "ceramics, technology, culture." Today, we will explore the evolution of tea ware from two…...

Due to the pandemic, our lives have undergone many changes, yet one thing that remains constant is the daily hustle and bustle. As concerns seem endless, health has increasingly become a topic of common concern. With the rise of health-conscious consumption and continuous consumption upgrades, tea is becoming more popular due to its natural and healthy attributes. Comprehensive health encompasses both physical and mental well-being, and traditional tea contributes to both aspects under the current pandemic situation. 1. Tea and Health Preservation - "Tea Is a Remedy for All Ills" An increasing number of people are falling in love with drinking tea, as it is both a health-preserving and enjoyable activity. The idea that tea can preserve health is supported by historical accounts of the medicinal benefits of tea. In fact, tea was commonly known as a medicinal herb in ancient times. It is said that Shen Nong tasted hundreds of herbs and encountered seventy-two poisons in a single day, but he was able to detoxify himself with tea. This speaks to the remarkable detoxifying properties of tea. The great Tang Dynasty physician Chen Cangqi wrote in his book Supplement to the Materia Medica: “All other medicines are remedies for…...