There's nothing quite like enjoying a delightful cup of green tea on a summer's day. But is brewing green tea simply a matter of placing the leaves in the teapot and pouring water over them?
Of course not. As the saying goes, there is a proper order to adding the tea leaves; when it comes to brewing green tea in particular, whether to add the leaves first or pour the water first-every detail matters.
Method 1: Top-pouring Method – Pour water first, then add tea
'Top-pouring' refers to first filling the cup seven-tenths full with water at the correct temperature, then adding the tea. Remember that green tea requires water at 85°C; the more tender the tea, the lower the required water temperature.
Method: First fill the cup seven-tenths full with water, then add the tea.
Suitable tea varieties: High-grade green teas with tight, slender leaves and tender buds, such as Biluochun, Xinyang Maojian, Duyun Maojian, Mengding Ganlu and Huangjin No. 1.
Advantages: Adding the tea leaves after filling the cup prevents them from being scalded by excessively hot water. You can observe the fresh, tender buds unfurling in the cup and admire the 'green tea dance' as they rise and fall and float about.
Method 2: The 'Middle-Pour' Method: Warm the cup → Add the tea → Moisten the tea → Brew
The 'Middle-Pour' method involves first pouring one-third of the cup with water at the appropriate temperature, then adding the tea and gently swirling it in the cup to moisten the leaves, allowing them to unfurl slowly, before topping up the cup to seven-tenths full.
Method
First, pour one-third of the cup with water at the appropriate temperature, then add the tea leaves. Gently swirl the tea in the cup to moisten the leaves, allowing them to unfurl gradually, before topping up the cup to seven-tenths full.
Suitable Tea Varieties
High-grade green teas with tightly rolled, flat leaves, or those with a tenderness of one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves, such as West Lake Longjing, Huangshan Maofeng, Anji White Tea and Zhuyeqing.
Advantages
The 'middle-pour' method effectively lowers the water temperature, preventing the tea from becoming bitter or astringent, and ensures that the tea leaves remain afloat in the water for the longest duration.
Method Three: The 'Lower-Addition' Method: Add tea → Brew
'Lower-Addition' refers to first adding an appropriate amount of tea leaves, then pouring water at the correct temperature down the side of the cup until it is seven-tenths full. Either a glass cup or a porcelain lidded bowl may be used. Gently swirl the cup to ensure the tea leaves are thoroughly moistened, then leave them to unfurl naturally.
Method
First, add an appropriate amount of tea leaves, then pour water at the correct temperature down the side of the cup until it is seven-tenths full. Either a glass cup or a porcelain lidded bowl may be used. Gently swirl the cup to ensure the tea leaves are thoroughly moistened, then leave them to unfurl naturally.
Suitable Tea Varieties
Green teas with a looser leaf structure, slightly lower tenderness and whole-bud forms; as well as tea varieties other than green teas such as Lu'an Guapian and Taiping Houkui.
Advantages
A relatively common method of brewing tea, which allows the flavour to develop more fully.
Friendly reminder:
The so-called tea-pouring methods are merely broad guidelines based on the degree of tenderness and fineness of different green teas; it does not mean that a single type of green tea can only be brewed using one specific method.
