Last Updated on 07/22/2020 by Desmond
Do you know the influence of steeping times? How many times is the best for we steep the tea in the same teapot? That influences a lot to the tea taste.
Sometimes we see people drinking tea like this:
they put only a few tea leaves in a teapot and steep it, again and again, one same pot of tea can drink all day. And some people only brew one round infusion then throw the leaves away, when they having the are next round they will make a new pot.
It’s not about whoever is right, or who’s wrong. How many times the same leaves can be steeped is depends on what type of tea they are. There is a big gap between different kinds of tea.
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How Does The Steeping Times Influence Tea Taste
The research suggested, the solution rate of various active components in tea is different. When brewing a teapot of tea, the amino acids and vitamin C are the easiest to dissolve out; the following are caffeine, tea polysaccharide, and tea polyphenol. Most of these ingredients will be dissolving out at the first infusion making.
In most cases, the flavor and benefits tea will bring at the first and second infusions. The more times it steeped, the less it brings.
How Many Steeping Times Is The Best For Green Tea
Take green tea as an example. When steeped for the first time, the soluble substances in tea can be dissolved out by about 50%. In the second infusion, it will reduce to about 30%. For the third time, only about 10% can be left to dissolve out.
Therefore, the more times it been steeped, the lower the number of soluble substances dissolved. You may ever experience, that after steeped too many times with the same pot of green tea, the infusion tastes similar to the plain water.
Typically, the high-grade green tea can only be steeped 2 or 3 times, because the leaves are relatively tender, too much steeping times will affect the quality of the infusion. In the case of a black tea bag, it can be steeped only once. But to oolong teas, they can be steeped more times, even reaching 5~9 times. And as for the old Pu-erh tea, some kinds can steep more than 20 times, because the components contained in dissolve slow.
In addition to the number of steeping times, tea’s steeping time has a lot to do with the effect of beneficial ingredients in tea leaves.
Not only will the flavor be influenced, but the nutrition facts also may be changed. Once the leaves contact the hot water, both leaves and infusion will begin to oxidize. Especially the green tea, you will see the leaves will turn dark-yellow after placed a long time, also the infusion. So the best thing you should do is steep fewer times, and having it quickly. Besides, the concentration of tea should not be too high; it may damage your health.
So, the steep times seem to influence not only the taste but also health, and it can not be ignored.
Your comments about how to drink tea in a beneficial way are invaluable. I learned from personal experience that steeping black tea leaves too long or having too much black tea at one time can cause negative effects, but the right amount at the proper steeping gives me strength and focus. Trial and error in tea making is important, but having basic information about doing it properly is even more helpful.
Your comments on the proper brewing and drinking of tea for the most beneficial effects are invaluable. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience.
Your advice on the proper brewing and drinking of tea to maximize its benefits are invaluable. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience.