What is good tea? How can you enjoy a cup of good tea in a simple method suitable for you?
First, good tea is brewed from good tea leaves. Observe the appearance and integrity of the leaves and enjoy their scent as you select the type of tea leaves you like.
Next, once hot water is used to brew the tea, the color of tea liquor tells the skill of the tea manufacturer. Good teas have a bright, clear color. Then one can appreciate the fragrance and observe how the tea leaves unfold. Some tea leaves have a floral fragrance, honey fragrance, or a cold fragrance from alpine springs which smells absolutely refreshing.
Then take a sip and experience the taste of the tea liquor on the tip of your tongue and in your throat. Smell the fragrance at the bottom of the cup and experience the different levels of aroma.
Some thoughts on tea appreciation from Le Vert thé:
Hold the first sip in your mouth for a bit to experience whether the taste shifts from slightly bitter to sweet. Then swallow and feel whether the tea liquor goes down smoothly. If the fragrance of the tea still lingers in your mouth, it’s a good tea!
Some good teas must be consumed as soon as the tea’s temperature cools down from the brewing process. Drinking it cold yields another flavor, as tea liquor will have varying degrees of a sweet aftertaste at different temperatures.
Le Vert thé has professional Taiwanese and Japanese tea artists on our staff. If you would like to learn more about brewing tea, we offer tea appreciation instruction in small classes.
The trifecta of tea brewing: "tea volume", "water temperature", "time"
Introducing basic brewing methods:
Non-strained Tea Method
Can be performed with regular cups. Tea leaves do not have to be separated from liquor; brew tea directly for 8 or more minutes.Can be brewed only once.
Small Pot Tea Method
This standard tea brewing method uses Yixing teapots or smallteapotsof other materials. Put the right amount of tea leaves (usually 150cc teapot needs 6-8g of tea leaves) and pour hot water. The 1st brew need about one minutes, secondbrew needs about 30 seconds, and the 3rd brew needs 1 minute to brew tea. Pouring the nicely brewed tea liquor out from the teapot into tea pitcher, the tea is ready to serve for each small teacups for guests.
International Certification Method
This method uses international certification cups, and is mostly used on occasions of international tea certification. The aroma, liquor, and quality of multiple types of tea leaves can be certified at the same time.
Lidded cup tea method
This tea brewing method uses Lidded Cup instead of teapot. Put the right amount of tea leaves (usually 150cc lidded cup needs 6-8g of tea leaves) and pour hot water. When the proper thickness of taste and aroma are brewed out into the tea liquor, pour tea out of lidded cup into tea pitcher and serve. Infusing time for the first brew is about30 sec. to one minute (depends on tea), the second brew is about 30 sec., third brew is about 1 minute, and fourth brew is about 2 minutes. Just like small tea pot method, this lidded cup method can infuse up to fifth brew. Handling lidded cup may need practice.
Cold Brewing Tea Method
Using the basis of the leaf-to-water ratio for non-strained tea, brew any type of tea leaf with cold water and place in the refrigeratorfor 6 hours or morebefore consuming.