Washing tea is not to wash tea, but to wake it up.

YuanJia131

When brewing Pu'er tea, rinsing the leaves is considered the first step. One purpose of rinsing is to remove dust and impurities from the surface of the leaves, as well as some fine tea particles, resulting in a smoother tea infusion with fewer sediments and a more pleasant taste.

The second purpose is to "awaken the tea." The tea leaves are sealed within tea cakes, encapsulating their vibrant essence, waiting for the day they will finally awaken. To savor the most authentic flavor, "awakening the tea" is indispensable—much like visiting an old friend, where a brief exchange of daily pleasantries before deep conversation serves as both courtesy and a necessary prelude.

Rinse green tea once and ripe tea 2-3 times, which is a common practice. Following the habits of many seasoned tea enthusiasts, green tea, especially fresh green tea, should be awakened using a gaiwan, known as the "tempering infusion." Take an appropriate amount of green tea into the gaiwan, pour in an adequate amount of hot water, and discard it after 3 seconds. This step helps the tea leaves to unfurl. Let it steep for 10-20 seconds, and then you can proceed with the actual tasting.

For ripe tea, a purple clay pot can be used for the process known as "warming and reviving the tea." Place the ripe tea leaves into the pot, cover it, and repeatedly pour boiling water over the pot. Utilizing the non-porous nature of the purple clay pot, the heat from the steam helps revive the tea. The pouring process should be done gently and smoothly, avoiding haste. After allowing it to sit for two to three minutes, proceed with the traditional tea rinsing method to moisten the tea. Using this method to revive ripe tea releases its aroma while also removing any off-flavors.

It should be noted that for fresh tea, raw tea, or teas with a high proportion of buds, the water temperature during the awakening process can be slightly lower. In contrast, aged tea or old yellow tea leaves can be awakened and rinsed with higher water temperatures. For ripe tea with a strong fermented flavor, an additional heating step during the awakening process can be employed, leveraging the properties of a purple clay teapot to purify the aroma.

Some say, "Why go through all those complicated steps when it's just about drinking tea?" In truth, for those who truly love tea, the process is an integral part of the experience. If one can calm their mind to savor the tea, why not also calm their mind to awaken it?