Tea is a culture that has been passed down through the ages in China, and drinking tea is deeply embedded in the Chinese DNA. With thousands of years of tea culture, it has become an essential beverage in modern households.
As we enter the depths of winter, returning from the bone-chilling outdoors to brew a warm cup of black tea not only warms the body but also instantly opens the pores. A comfortable sigh later, the spirit relaxes, and the day’s fatigue dissipates.
On this cold winter day, even if you stay at home, brewing a cup of hot tea allows you to watch the leaves float and sink in the water, gently swirling. Take a deep breath, sip the tea, listen to some traditional opera, and enjoy a little TV—what a wonderful experience!
Since tea can so quickly enhance our happiness, I’d like to share some tips on brewing tea, so that everyone can enjoy a cup of richly flavored tea on these chilly days.
Tea culture is vast and profound, and a few thousand words can’t cover all the details and origins of tea drinking. Today, I will focus on basic knowledge about brewing tea to give everyone a foundational understanding.
Brewing tea isn’t just a preparatory step before drinking; watching the leaves gradually unfold and curl in hot water and seeing the cool water change color is an art in itself. The process of appreciating tea starts the moment you begin to brew.
After selecting the type of tea to brew, you can choose suitable teaware. For example, when brewing green tea, you might use a teacup or a covered bowl.
Typically, transparent glass cups or various colored porcelain bowls are chosen—white porcelain bowls are preferred for observing the color changes during brewing and the unfolding of the tea leaves.
The choice of water is also a critical step. Green tea requires high-quality water; we often select premium mineral water for brewing. This isn’t mere fussiness—different water qualities yield different tea qualities.
High-quality mineral water is generally neutral, while water directly from the tap is often alkaline. Using such water can lead to dark, unattractive tea and an unpleasant, sticky taste that irritates the throat.
