Got the best black tea, but not sure how to bring out its absolute best? Actually, by keeping just a few simple tips in mind, even beginners can brew a fantastic cup of black tea and let the leaves shine. Here is our recommended brewing guide for Taiwan Honey Black Tea and SunMoon Lake black tea. Feel free to use it as a reference, and we always welcome your feedback and thoughts.
Find the Right Water
The first step in brewing black tea is finding the right water. Water that is lively and rich in dissolved oxygen is best. If you live near a mountain spring or stream, that is the ideal water for black tea. If not, tap water works too. However, avoid mineral water or water that has been sitting stagnant in a hot water dispenser for a long time. Tea brewed with such water lacks vitality and tastes far inferior to spring water.
Use 100°C Boiling Water
Unlike Taiwan Oolong tea, which requires a water temperature of 90°C to 95°C, black tea is best brewed with 100°C boiling water. Once it reaches a boil, don’t let it overboil—just wait until small bubbles are gently rolling across the surface. If the water temperature is too low, the flavors of the black tea won’t be able to open up, and the tea will taste too weak and flat.
▲ The ideal water temperature for brewing black tea is 100°C. Lower temperatures make it difficult to bring out the tea’s best flavors.
Prepare Your Teaware
Set out your teapot and cups in advance. It’s best to warm your teapot and cups beforehand to prevent the temperature from dropping too quickly, which would stop the black tea from developing its full flavor. A wide, thick porcelain teapot is a great choice, as it allows the tea leaves to fully expand in the water, which helps release their natural sweetness.
Brewing the Tea
The ideal ratio for brewing black tea is 1:50—meaning 2 g of tea leaves for every 100 ml of water. For a 400 ml teapot, use 8 g of tea. Of course, this ratio isn’t set in stone, and you can adjust the amount of tea leaves up or down to suit your personal taste. Next, pour the boiling water from your kettle into the teapot. Generally, steep for about 2 minutes, though you can slightly shorten or extend the time to your liking. Pour the brewed tea into a fair mug (pitcher) to prevent it from over-steeping in the pot. Now, you’re all set to enjoy a delicious cup of black tea!
| Black Tea Guide | |||