Have you noticed the word rinse on your Camellia Sinensis tea packet? This indication suggests that the tea could benefit from a brief rinse with a small amount of hot water (at the same temperature recommended for brewing). There are several reasons why rinsing tea is a beneficial step.
Why Rinse Your Tea? The Three Main Reasons
1. Awakening the Tea Leaves for Optimal Brewing
Teas with large leaves, sometimes rolled (such as Wulong, particularly those that are roasted or aged), or compressed (such as Pu Er), can benefit from rinsing to help them unfurl before brewing.
Once the leaves are warmed and partially opened, they will release their aromatic oils more easily during infusion. However, it is important to avoid prolonged rinsing (more than 10 seconds), as the tea will begin to infuse and you will lose some of the precious aromas of the infusion you are about to drink.
2. Removing Impurities and Particles
Some compressed or long-aged teas may contain dust, plant debris, or fine particles. Rinsing the tea helps eliminate these, resulting in a purer infusion.
Pu Er teas, in particular, should always be rinsed. These fermented teas, aged in rustic cellars, may contain traces of dust, mould, or bacteria. It is therefore advisable to rinse them once or twice before brewing for the best tasting experience.
Broken particles of tea of any style infuse faster than whole leaves. If we don’t rinse them out they will give an imbalanced brew and often shroud some of the more sophisticated aromatics we hope to enjoy.
3. Reducing the Tea’s Bitterness
Certain Chinese green teas, such as Gunpowder, can develop a bitter taste if not rinsed beforehand. A quick rinse helps soften the flavours and reveal more subtle notes.
Other high-quality Chinese green teas, like Lu An Gua Pian and Xin Yang Mao Jian, also benefit from rinsing, as it reduces bitterness and enhances the overall tasting experience.
Which Teas Should Be Rinsed Before Brewing?
Here is a list of teas that benefit from rinsing for a better infusion:
- Most Wulong teas (except Bai Hao)
- Pu Er teas and small-leaf or rolled Chinese green teas
- Teas containing many small particles that occur due to storage conditions of ageing or when reaching the broken leaves at the bottom of a batch of whole-leaf tea.
How to Rinse Your Tea Properly
Simply use water at the recommended brewing temperature for just a few seconds. After pouring the water over the tea, discard the water while keeping the leaves in your infuser, teapot, or Gaiwan. The leaves are now ready for brewing!