I often hear old people say: "Boiled water makes tea." Is this true? This statement may be true for some types of tea, but at least one type of tea cannot be brewed with boiling water. What kind of tea cannot withstand the "test of boiling water"? Let’s watch it together!
The relationship between water temperature and tea quality
Different tea products have their own suitable water temperatures to brew the tea aroma and flavor. The water temperature depends on the tenderness of the tea leaves. The tenderer the tea leaves, the lower the temperature required; conversely, the more mature the tea leaves, the higher the water temperature is required. Therefore, the suitable water temperature for tea products such as green tea, Baihao Yinzhen, Jinjunmei and other teas that are generally made from buds is about 70-75 degrees . If the water temperature is too high or too low, the flavor of the tea will not be brewed.
In view of this, the editor conducted a small experiment using [Honey-flavored Huangya] Wuyi black tea , so that everyone can easily understand the impact of different water temperatures on the tea brewing process.
Water temperature is too low - bland and thin
We first brew with water temperature of about 55 degrees, which is lower than the standard. No matter when washing the tea or brewing it, the tea aroma is not obvious, only a faint honey aroma. The color of the tea soup is light orange, and the surface of the tea soup is covered with vellus hairs. In terms of taste, the tea soup tastes a little thin, the tea flavor lacks the mellowness that black tea should have, and the aftertaste is bland and tasteless.
Moderate water temperature - mellow taste
Brewed at a standard water temperature of 70 degrees, the rich aroma of honey is already hitting your nose when you wash the tea, which is sweet and not cloying. The color of the tea soup is amber, uniform and translucent, and the surface of the tea soup is covered with vellus hairs. When the tea soup enters the throat, you can taste the mellow taste of black tea. The honeyed fruit aroma and the delicate bud aroma are well matched. The taste is moderate in intensity. The fruity sweetness lingers in the mouth for a long time.
Water temperature is too high - slightly sour taste
Finally, we tried brewing with high-temperature water of 85 degrees. The aroma of tea is excellent, with a strong honey aroma, and the hot water brewing aroma fills the entire space. The color of the tea soup is amber, and the surface is still covered with vellus hairs. However, the tea soup tastes because the water temperature is too high, scalding the delicate tea buds, making the sourness of the black tea very obvious, overshadowing the outstanding fruity and bud aroma of the tea itself. Although it has a light floral-fruity finish, it's not long-lasting.
It can be seen that the temperature for brewing bud tea is best controlled at about 70 degrees. Water temperature that is too high or too low will change the flavor of the tea and fail to brew the essence of bud tea.
The above is a small sharing of different water temperatures for brewing bud tea. You should pay attention to it next time you brew Silver Needle or Honey-flavored Huangya!
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