What kind of tea sets is the best for brewing tea?
The generally used tea sets include porcelain, pottery (mainly Yixing Zisha) and glass. In brewing Pu-erh tea,
we will choose pottery, because, in terms of tasting tea, porcelain and pottery are the best for their
excellent capacity of preserving heat, a better quality in color, smell and taste, and their elegant
appearances that are worth artistic appreciation. If you are going to use Yixing teapot, we recommend
one pot for ripe pu-erh and another for raw.
Does the quality of water affect brewing tea?
There are many sorts of water, and their attributes are distinct. Different water will have dissimilar
effects on the quality of tea because the various substances dissolved in them, an improper use of water
can result in regrets of tea drinking. Tea Classic written by LuYu, says "Among the choices of water,
water from mountains is the best, from rivers the second and from wells inferior. In choosing water
from mountains, the best selection is from tender springs, stone ponds and that flowing out slow;
never take the surging water or that formed by waterfalls.......For water from rivers, select the
far-off one. As for water from wells, take the most frequently drawn one." This proved that the best
water for brewing tea is the water derived from springs, and the water must stream out slowly.
Moreover, the best spring water for tea should contain less calcium and magnesium compound.
The water taken in rivers is usually not the ideal one, and the water from wells is even more
inferior. As for the water of rainfalls, it is comparatively pure, but the quality varies according
to the different time of rain. The best rainfall is the rain in autumn, plum rain the second and the
worst is that from thunderstorms.
Which one is better to make tea: purified water or tap water?
While municipal tap water is usually disinfected and filtrated, it is much cleaner and more medical,
which is more suitable for drinking. But sometimes when excess chloride is used in disinfection,
the water will become smelly. At the same time, the minerals in the water will affect the quality
of tea leaves. For example, when iron oxide with high valence is more than 0.1ppm in the water, the
quality of tea will turn bad; when calcium is more than 4ppm, the flavor will become bitter;
when magnesium is more than 2ppm, the tea will turn pallid. Purified water, however have no other
liquefactent except CO2, which will never affect the degustation of tea and it is useful for assessing
tea. But after all, the best water for brewing tea is springwater.
What are the major nutrition ingredients in tea?
Many chemical components are good for health, and the important ones include vitamin, theine,
multi hydroxybenzene, amino acid and aromatic substances.
What is the difference between ripe and raw pu-erh?
Both ripe and raw Pu-erh tea come from one of the Yunnan Big Leaf varieties of the tea plant.
The difference is ripe Pu-erh has been post-fermented artificially before being compressed into
their shape, whereas raw Pu-erh is processed with little or no fermentation before being
compressed into various forms.
Are there any skills in brewing Pu-erh tea?
Of course, you need some good tea leaves, some good water and the right method of brewing tea.
Only with this can you make a cup of good tea. To Pu-erh, you need boiling water as hot as
possible when pour it into the pot. Wash tea leaves 2 times for period of about 5-10 seconds each
time, the third infusion is to be drank. The first two infusions wash the leaves and prime them,
use the tea water to wash the cups. The third and fourth infusions don't require long infusions
times, 5-30 seconds will be OK (depending on how light or dark you want the tea). Use a small
strainer to catch tea leaves before they enter your cup for drinking. Pu-erh tea usually can
be infused anywhere between 10 - 20 times.
For more details about how to make a cup of Pu-erh tea, please visit
Brewing Pu-erh page.
Does tea need washing before drinking?
The term "Tea washing" has two purposes: 1, Dipping and soaking the tea in water can wash away
some of the substances on the surface of tea, such as tea ashes. 2, Soakage can help to reduce
the flame flavor of the tea, and facilitate the volatilization of the fragrance.
How should I store my Pu-erh tea?
Pu-erh Tea's quality never fades as years go by, it is traditionally compressed into a variety
of shapes and sizes for easy storage. But, the tea must neither be placed amid substances with
peculiar smell nor in dampness, 70% humidity is a good target. Don't keep it hermetically sealed,
breathable packaging is suitable for aging.
Is it good to take medicine with tea?
There is no such a simple answer as "yes" or "no". Under most circumstances, it is not encouraged
to take medicine with tea, especially in the case of various kinds of iron medicine, such as ferrisulphas,
ferricarbonate, ferriamine, and aluminiferous medicine such as aluminiferous hydroxides. The effect
of the said medicine will be diminished or lost when the multi hydroxybenzenes contained in tea combine
with metal hydroniums and precipitate. In addition, tea contains caffeine (i.e thein), which has the
effect of incitant, and therefore, ataractics, hypnagogues or antitussives should not be taken with
tea in case that the conflicts between different substances reduce the medical effects. When taking
enzymatic preparations, such as albumen enzymes and amylase, tea should not be drunk, either,
because the multi hydroxybenzenes contained in tea can combine with enzymes and thus deactivate
them. Some of the alkaloid preparations, such as atropine and aspirin, should not be eaten with
water either. When taking furazolidone or methylbenzylhydrazine, small amount of tea can cause
insomnia, and large amount of tea can lead to high blood pressure. So it is generally believed
that tea drinking should be prohibited 2 hours before taking the said medicine. However, it is fine
to drink tea if taking vitamin pills, incitants, diuretics, and the medicine for reducing blood fat,
blood sugar and white blood cells. For example, the absorbability and accumulation of vitamin C
in human body can be facilitated by tea that is drunk after the intake, thanks to the abundant
catechu substance. Moreover, tea itself has the effects of excitement, diuresis, reducing the
blood fat and blood sugar, and increasing the white blood cells. Accompanied by tea, the effects
of said medicine can be enhanced.
What is the most salubrious timing to drink tea?
A cup of tea in the morning can refresh your soul and mind; drinking tea during work can eliminate fatigue,
enhance energy and facilitate thinking and judgment. Drinking tea when smoking can help alleviate the harm
produced by tar and nicotine. And a cup of tea when watching TV can not only contribute to restoring eyesight,
but also relieve the harm brought by slight radiation. Among all of the above, the best time for drinking
tea varies according to different people, surroundings and working conditions. It is hard to say when is
the best time for drinking tea. Drinking tea for thirst is rather personal: whenever you feel like it,
you can drink it.
Is it true that thick tea can resolve wine?
People always say, "Tea can resolve wine", but many of them are not sure whether it is true. In fact,
drinking thick tea does resolve wine. Human body mainly depends on the alcoholic hydrolyzing enzyme
to hydrolyze the alcohol into water and carbon dioxide. This process of hydrolyzing needs vitamin C
as catalyst. Therefore, in banquet or after drinks, a few cups of tea not only supply vitamin C, but
also accelerate the egestion of alcohol, this is mainly due to the hydragogue theine contained in tea
leaves. Drunken people are usually subject to swirl, headache and disorder of body functioning, because
the nerves of brain is numbed. Thick tea can stimulate the lull centrum nerves of the brain, effectively
speed up metabolism, and thus play the role of sobering up.
Which is healthier, cold tea or hot tea?
A lot of people like hot tea. However, according to the investigation, thick tea drunk at a temperature
higher than 80 degree Centigrade will cause the tan acid in tea to deposit in the scalded part of the
oesophagus, and the sediment will constantly agitate the epidermic cells of the oesophagus wall and
thus inpel mutation in the cells. After mass proliferation, the mutated cells may turn into tumour
tissues, and cause enteron cancer. Therefore, tea brewed with boiling water had better be taken after
it cools off to below 70 degree Centigrade, in other words, it is the temperature when hands don't
feel too hot when touching a pottery cup or a glass.
Why does tea have the refreshing effect? Does it have any side effects?
The caffeine contained in tea can stimulate central nerves and thus produce refreshment. The extent
of stimulation depends on dosage. Moreover, caffeine can also eliminate fatigue and resist the harm
of alcohol, nicotinamide and morphine. After all, the side effects of caffeine are only temporary, since
caffeine will not accumulate in human blood, and is usually excreted out of the body through metabolism
within a few hours.
I sometimes suffer from insomnia as a result of too much tea. Is there any solution to this problem?
The theine and yellow alcoholic alkyl compounds can stimulate the activity of adrenal gland, prohibit
the decomposition of catechol, and also, induce the bio-synthesizing effect of catecholamine, which can
expedite stimulation. If you are prone to insomnia as a result of drinking tea, please do not drink tea
or thick tea at night in order to ensure a good dream.
Are cold tea and tea brewed the night before drinkable?
From the angle of nutrition and hygiene, I don't think that tea brewed over night is suitable for drinking.
As for cold tea, it is drinkable if it doesn't deteriorate. But do not drink the remaining tea being placed
for a long time. The canned tea currently sold in market is cold tea, and it is drinkable if strictly
sterilized. Moreover, the aged or weak people, and those with poor internal organs must not drink cold
and over-night tea.
Can pregnant women drink tea?
There are heated discussion and research about whether caffeine of tea do harm to human health or not recent
years. The issue of the discussions is if caffeine can replace base adenine and guanine to participate to
form DNA and RNA, and then cause changes of genetic information. But the recent experiments tell us that
drinking tea will just do pregnant women more good, and increase the effective constitution of tea leaves.
Firstly, the guaranine of tea leaves is very little, and it takes only a few hours to drain away from our
body. Secondly, guaranine only has antioxidant function, so it is unnecessary to worry about if guaranine
will cause blemish to the babies. After all, if you are pregnant, your diet habit should follow the
prescription of the doctor.
I have heard about that smokers should drink more tea. Is that true?
It is true that drinking tea can minimize the harm of tobaccos. Nicotine of tobacco will retract blood-vessel,
accelerate arteriosclerosis and decrease content of vitamin C , absorbed by our body. So smokers drinking tea can reinforce vitamin C of the body effectively. The more important thing is
that tea polyphenol can inhibit carcinogenic substances. So I advise you to drink more tea in order to decrease
the harm of tobacco, for the sake of your health.
Is it healthy to drink tea after meals?
Many people like to brew a cup of tea after meals, or while chatting with friends. But in fact, that is not healthy
from the scientific point of view. Because there is a lot of gallic acid of tea leaves, which can react with iron
elements and form some new slightly soluble materials. The material is difficult to absorb by entermembrane.
When time goes by, the body will be short of iron. It may even induce hyphemia. Since iron will be fully absorbed
30-60 minutes after a meal, it is better to drink tea one hour after meal.
What illnesses should we avoid drinking tea?
Since tea contains caffeine and multi hydroxybenzene, it is not advised to drink tea after taking medicine,
especially for patients suffering iron-deficiency anemia, stomachache, low blood sugar, protease deficiency
symptoms, and tachycardia, because the multi hydroxybenzene in tea can combine with metal hydronium, and cause
sendiments, which will weaken the effect of the drugs.
What is the scientific way to drink tea?
Drinking tea must be scientific and whose amount must be proper. Usually for a healthy adult, 6-10 grams of
tea is adequate. And the time of drinking tea must be appropriate, the quantity must be adequate and the proportion
of water to tea must be reasonable. The times of brewing are varied according to different kinds of tea. Different
choices of tea can be brewed depending on seasons and habits. It is generally believed that the nature of ripe
Pu-erh is hot, while that of raw Pu-erh is cool. Therefore, drinking raw Pu-erh tea in summer can drive away heat
better, whereas drinking ripe Pu-erh tea in winter can heat up stomach and body.
Is it good for children to drink tea? Will the theine in tea affect children?
Children younger than 3 years old should keep away from tea, because the theine in tea has stimulating effects
to the central nerves, which might do harm to children's brain growth. However, so far there is no research that
proves the negative effects of tea on children. Children older than 3 can drink light tea, but better not thick
or strong tea.
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