Brewing Chinese fermented tea is an art that unveils the rich aromas and flavors locked within the leaves. Classified into six categories based on fermentation and its degree, fermented tea encompasses post-fermented tea, fully fermented tea, semi-fermented tea, and lightly fermented tea. In this guide, we’ll explore the steps to brew fermented tea, focusing on the example of Oolong tea.
1. Prepare Your Utensils
To embark on the journey of brewing fermented tea, start by gathering the necessary utensils. For Oolong tea, a semi-fermented variety, opt for a Yixing purple clay teapot or a covered bowl. Choose a white porcelain cup for serving. If using a teapot, consider one with a history, preferably an aged Yixing purple clay teapot.
2. Warm Your Utensils
Before brewing the fermented tea, warm your utensils. Pour boiling water into the teapot and the tea cup to elevate their temperature. This step is crucial as it helps stimulate the characteristics of the fermented tea. The water temperature for brewing fermented tea is also important; for Oolong tea, a temperature of at least 95 degrees Celsius is recommended to extract the essence from the tea leaves.
3. Add Tea Leaves
Now, it’s time to add the tea leaves. Typically, use one-third to one-fourth of the teapot’s capacity for the tea leaves. However, this is a general guideline, and you can adjust the amount based on your personal preference. Next, pour in a small amount of boiling water—just enough to cover the tea leaves. This step, known as “rinsing the tea,” involves quickly pouring out the water to prepare the leaves for brewing.
4. Brew the Tea
After rinsing the tea leaves, pour in boiling water again. The steeping time should not be too long, and it varies for different fermented teas. For Oolong tea, a typical steeping time is around 15 seconds for the first infusion. As you continue with subsequent infusions, you may need to slightly extend the steeping time. The number of infusions for fermented tea also varies; Oolong tea, for instance, can be brewed at least seven times, each time revealing different nuances of flavor.
Brewing fermented tea is not just a process; it’s a ritual that allows you to savor the evolution of flavors with each infusion. As you become familiar with the characteristics of your tea and fine-tune the brewing parameters to suit your taste, you’ll unlock the full potential of the fermented tea leaves, creating a sensory experience that goes beyond a simple beverage.
