Drinking tea is a long-standing tradition in China, but not everyone knows the correct way to do it. Tea drinking is an integrated art. And inviting friends to enjoy tea together is also a form of art. In this article, we will give you a detailed explanation of the 13 steps of tea brewing.
First Step: Washing Hands and Boiling Water
That means washing hands, drinking tea hygiene is very important, first serve tea, invite friends to appreciate tea.
The prerequisite for brewing good tea is to first find the best water. The preferred water for tea brewing is purified water, mineral water, etc. soft water. One of the requirements for brewing tea water is that it needs to be boiled. Whether using 80 or 90 degree water for brewing, it is necessary to first boil the water, then cool it from 100 degrees to the desired water temperature.
Second course: warming the cups and teapot
Just rinse all the tea utensils with boiling water, the purpose is also for hygiene and cleanliness, and at the same time preheat the tea utensils, so that the tea tastes more fragrant. Pour boiling water into the purple sand teapot, fair cup, aroma cup, and tea cup.
Step 3: Placing the Tea
Putting tea leaves into the teapot (cup) is called “placing tea leaves.” You should put in a certain amount of tea leaves according to the type of tea you are using, and the amount may vary depending on personal preference.
The fourth step: washing the tea
This is known as “awakening tea,” where you shake the gaiwan (a type of tea cup) containing dry tea leaves. Different shaped tea leaves are handled differently. The purpose is to awaken the tea leaves so that their fragrance and essence can be better displayed. The term “washing tea” or “moistening tea” refers to the first infusion of tea. Boiling water is used to moisten the tea leaves, the second time to awaken them. The value of the tea water is different for different types of tea. For good tea, the first infusion of tea leaves is usually retained and drunk at the end. For tea of average quality, the first infusion of tea leaves is usually discarded and not drunk.
The fifth step: brewing
After placing the tea leaves in the teapot, pour boiling water into the pot, usually filling it to about 80% full is appropriate. The brewing time is usually about 5 minutes. The more times the tea is brewed, the longer the steeping time should be.
The sixth step: Skim off the foam
Because tea contains tea saponin, there will be foam in the first few brews. Scrape off the foam to make the tea water cleaner.
The seventh step: Cover the teapot with the lid
Close the lid to preserve the fragrance of the tea leaves brewing in the pot, and pour boiling water over the entire pot for the same purpose.
The eighth step:Divide into cups
The steps to prepare for tea drinking are to use a tea tong to group the sniffing cup and tea cup together and place them on a tea tray for easy refilling.
The ninth step:Serve Tea
The brewed tea should be poured into the tea pot first, and then poured from the tea pot into the cups of the guests.
The tenth step: Serving Tea
Offering tea with proper etiquette by presenting the cup with both hands to the guest is the essence of ancient Chinese etiquette for serving tea.Place the tea set in front of the guest’s right hand and invite them to enjoy the tea.
The eleventh step:Enjoy your tea
Tea should not be drunk immediately after brewing. Instead, it should be first observed in color and shape, then held in a cup and smelled, and finally tasted and appreciated.
Although we don’t need such elaborate steps in our daily tea drinking, it is important to follow these steps when hosting friends or performing tea ceremonies.