The cultivation history of tea trees in China spans over two thousand years, and the variety of Chinese tea is incredibly rich, including green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea, yellow tea, black tea, and various special categories such as flower tea. These teas are not only popular in China but also have a wide range of enthusiasts globally.
About Loose Leaf Tea Sampler
When people start learning about Chinese tea, they may feel overwhelmed. With so many types of tea and significant price differences, where does one begin? This is where Chinese loose leaf tea sampler come into play. With just one box of tea, you can explore a variety of professional and diverse options related to specific tea categories, such as oolong tea.
Chinese loose leaf tea samplers come in various types, including green tea samplers, oolong tea samplers, and flower tea samplers, among others. These tea samplers are selected based on professional tea standards, featuring the most classic tea varieties while providing rich tea knowledge, brewing guidance, and other information to easily explore the world of Chinese tea. If you're looking to gift friends and family, loose leaf tea samplers are also excellent tea gift sets - delicious and healthy.
To truly discover the beauty of Chinese tea, it's best to experience it firsthand. In practice, you'll find that different varieties of loose leaf tea require specific brewing methods to bring out the best flavors. Now, let's explore the brewing methods for different loose leaf teas.
Brewing Method for Loose Leaf Green Tea
The key to brewing loose leaf green tea is to avoid damaging the freshness of the tea leaves during the brewing process. Some green teas, such as Biluochun and Longjing tea, are among the best loose leaf tea in China, known for their refreshing taste and vibrant green color.
Brewing at too high a water temperature can lead to the destruction of substances like vitamin C and polyphenols, resulting in a decrease in freshness and a darkening of the color.
Brewing Vessel: Glass cup
Water Temperature: 80-90°C
Tea Amount: 3g
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1:50
Brewing Technique:
If the specific temperature is challenging to control, you can let the water sit for about 5 minutes after boiling to achieve the desired temperature of 80-90°C.
When pouring water, do it along the cup's inner wall to avoid directly impacting the tea leaves. Allow the water to gradually permeate the tea leaves, letting them naturally unfurl and release their substances slowly.
Find more loose leaf green tea with our Green Tea Sampler.>>>
Brewing Method for Loose Leaf White Tea
When brewing loose leaf white tea, it is essential to pay attention to the tenderness of the tea leaves.
Among them, Silver Needle and premium White Peony have high tenderness, while regular White Peony and Shou Mei have lower tenderness. White teas with different tenderness levels have some differences in their brewing methods.
Brewing Vessel: Gaiwan, Purple Clay Teapot
Water Temperature: 90°C (High Tenderness) / 100°C (Low Tenderness)
Tea Amount: 3g-5g
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1:35
Brewing Technique:
For white teas with high tenderness, the key is to brew a sweet flavor, so the water temperature should not be too high. The brewing time can also be relatively short, with each infusion lasting approximately 30 seconds.
For white teas with low tenderness, they are not only suitable for brewing with boiling water but can also be boiled. After brewing the tea leaves with boiling water about 5 times, you can transfer the leaves to a tea pot for boiling, fully utilizing the potential of the tea leaves.
Brewing Method for Loose Leaf Yellow Tea
The brewing of loose leaf yellow tea, similar to green tea, requires maintaining a moderate water temperature.
Brewing Vessel: Glass cup
Water Temperature: 80-90°C
Tea Amount: 3g
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1:50
Brewing Technique:
Loose leaf yellow tea is a lightly oxidized tea with delicate leaves, and using water at too high a temperature can scald the leaves. Therefore, it is not advisable to brew it with boiling water.
The optimal brewing time for the first infusion of loose leaf yellow tea is 30 seconds, extending to 60 seconds for the second infusion, and further extending to approximately 2 minutes for the third infusion. Brewing this way enhances the taste of the tea infusion.
Brewing Method for Loose Leaf Oolong Tea
The key to brewing loose leaf oolong tea is to bring out its high fragrance and charm.
Brewing Vessel: Gaiwan, Purple Clay Teapot
Water Temperature: 95-100°C
Tea Amount: 5g~8g
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1:25
Brewing Technique:
The water temperature for brewing oolong tea should be slightly higher to fully evoke its fragrance.
For oolong tea, such as strip-shaped single-cluster tea and rock tea, the key is to brew them for a short time, allowing them to release their flavors instantly. However, for pellet-shaped oolong tea, the brewing time can be slightly longer.
Find more loose leaf oolong tea with our Oolong Tea Sampler.>>>
Brewing Method for Loose Leaf Black Tea
When brewing loose leaf black tea, it is important to be careful not to steep it too long, as this can result in a sour or astringent taste.
Black tea is fully oxidized, and improper brewing can easily lead to a sour or even bitter taste.
Brewing Vessel: Gaiwan
Water Temperature: 90°C
Tea Amount: 3g-5g
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1:35
Brewing Technique:
Avoid steeping black tea for too long; pouring out the tea quickly after adding water will yield a cup of clear, sweet, and refreshing black tea. The gaiwan used should have a wide mouth for effective heat dissipation and aeration.
Use a slightly smaller amount of tea leaves to ensure they have sufficient space to breathe, preventing the tea from becoming too dense.
Pour out the tea completely, avoiding prolonged contact between water and tea leaves. After pouring out the tea, open the lid of the gaiwan to allow for heat dissipation.
Find more loose leaf black tea with our Black Tea Sampler.>>>
Brewing Method for Loose Leaf Dark Tea
Before brewing loose leaf dark tea, it is recommended to perform a "tea awakening" to bring the tea leaves to a better state and achieve a superior flavor.
Brewing Vessel: Gaiwan, Purple Clay Teapot
Water Temperature: 100°C
Tea Amount: 5g-8g
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1:25
Brewing Technique:
Substances in loose leaf dark tea dissolve slowly, requiring higher water temperature and heat during brewing. To enhance the state and flavor of the tea leaves, it is suggested to first perform a "tea awakening," soaking them gently in warm water before using boiling water for brewing.
When brewing dark tea, pour water gently, usually opting for a low pouring technique, maintaining a stable brewing intensity throughout the process.
There are thousands of types of tea in China, and the Chinese categorize tea into six main types. These are black tea, oolong tea, green tea, yellow tea, black tea and white tea.
Many times we can't tell which kind of tea we really like. Often times we need to shop around for these six types of teas in order to find our favorites.
But now, there is a more convenient and money-saving way to do this. iTeaworld has launched its newest product: Chinese Tea Sampler. This is a product that contains all six types of teas, so you can taste all six types of Chinese teas at once and at the lowest possible cost!
The six major categories of tea in China have different characteristics, and as a result, the emphasis on brewing methods varies. Therefore, there are specific methods for brewing each type of tea to bring out its unique qualities. Only by understanding and adapting to the nature of each tea can one fully unleash the potential of these leaves, allowing you to truly appreciate the beauty of Chinese tea.
