How to Brew Yellow Tea
Brewing yellow tea is simple, with few special techniques involved. Yellow tea is a most delicate kind of tea - its flavors are subtle and take time to develop.
The shorter steeping times required for yellow tea may seem challenging at first, but once you understand the properties of this kind of tea, it’s not hard at all. Yellow tea brewing is so accessible that even beginners can make a great cup of it!
Here’s some advice on how to brew yellow tea.
What You’ll Need
To brew the perfect cup of yellow tea, you’ll need a few things:
- A good quality yellow tea
- An unbreakable, non-metallic teapot (preferably glass)
- A tea strainer
- Water that’s just off-boil
- A timer Perhaps the most important thing, however, is a calm, relaxed state of mind.
Brewing yellow tea requires patience, and rushing things will only lead to disappointing tea.
A Short Steeping Time
Yellow teas are best when steeped for just one to two minutes. When brewing a less delicate green or white tea, it’s good practice to start the timer as soon as the water hits the leaves, but with less delicate teas, you can wait until the water is fully absorbed before timing it.
It would help if you started the timer with a light yellow tea as soon as the water reached the leaves. There’s a brief time window in which the leaves will be optimally infused.
Wait too long, and the tea might taste astringent or sour. To test whether the tea is made, gently lift the leaves with a tea strainer. If they seem to have lost their stiffness, it’s time to remove them.
A Good Quality Yellow Tea
When brewing any tea, it’s essential to use high-quality leaves. With yellow teas, though, it’s even more crucial. The delicate nature of these teas makes them particularly vulnerable to unpleasantly intense flavors and off-aromas caused by poor-quality leaves.
If you’re not sure about the quality of the tea you’ve got, you can try steeping it with the water just off the boil. Yellow teas are less forgiving than most other kinds of tea, so if they’re still not tasting good after 30 seconds, they’re not worth your time.
Water Temp and Leaf Quality
When brewing any tea, you should use water just off the boil. The precise temperature of the water will depend on the tea you’re brewing, but it shouldn’t be too hot, or it will damage the leaves and negatively affect the flavor.
Generally speaking, the hotter the water, the quicker the tea will be made. But a short brew time isn’t always desired. For yellow teas, the ideal steeping time is around four minutes, which is generally considered optimal for all other types of tea.
Generally speaking, the hotter the water, the quicker the tea will be made. But a short brew time isn’t always desired.
For yellow teas, the ideal steeping time is around four minutes, which is generally considered optimal for all other types of tea. Additionally, the water should be softened, as yellow teas are particularly fussy about water hardness.
Brewing Process
To start, you’ll want to warm the teapot. Yellow teas are best when brewed in glass, as they won’t interact with the metal of a metal pot in the way that green or black teas will. But even so, yellow teas will still develop a more complex flavor when brewed in a warm vessel.
Next, put the lid on the pot and let the water warm for about five minutes. It will help the water to settle and make it easier to measure. When the water has cooled to about 80°C, pour it into the pot and add the leaves.
Please don’t fill the jar too full; leave a little space for the water to expand as it heats. Let the tea steep for the recommended time (two minutes for delicate yellow teas). When it’s ready, pour the tea into a cup, and enjoy!
Tips for Great Yellow Tea
As with all types of tea, water quality is essential. Tap water contains a variety of minerals that will alter the taste of your tea.
You should use filtered water. Start with water that’s as close to 80°C as possible.
When brewing yellow tea, don’t overfill the pot. The leaves need room to expand, and if the bank is too full, they might not be able to open up properly and fully infuse with the water.
Use a tea strainer for a clean brew. Yellow teas are delicate and will quickly get caught in a tea filter.
Wrapping Up
Brewing yellow tea follows the same basic principles as brewing any other tea. The main difference is that yellow teas are slightly more delicate and require a somewhat different brewing process. Use quality leaves and a warm teapot to brew a tremendous yellow tea.
Follow the instructions for the type of yellow tea you’re brewing, and you should end up with a delicious, fragrant cup of tea! There’s a lot to love about yellow teas, and they’re worth the extra effort they require when brewing. They’re a great way to wind down in the evening or to start your day on a calm and relaxed note.