Salaam, ya'll! Greetings from the swamps of backwoods Florida. I've been on a yellow tea kick lately. I usually brew my yellows exactly how I would brew regular greens and the results are strong, but palatable. Tonight I experimented by brewing as I would brew a gyokuro. Lots of leaf, relatively LOW temperature. The results were outstanding. It was an absolute sugar fest- extremely sweet, fruit notes instead of vegetable, with no astringency. Anyone else try brewing their yellows as if they were gyokuro?
Funny story: I presented the brew to my neighbor Bubba (a good 'ole boy). his reaction: this is delicious! Don't dare tell anyone that I liked it.
Re: How do YOU brew?
Hehe thats interesting. I'm not so keen on yellows but I like Yin Zhen a lot, which I consider quite similar.
I do the opposite: Instead of the recommended 70-80°C, i often use more than 90° because I find that the tea is handling these temperatures quite well and develops a more defined character. Mostly i do it in a kind of gong fu-light style, in a relatively small kyusu with more leaves, and start by 80°, then raising the temperatures during subsequent infusions more and more... this works really well for me.
The other method of using a lot of tea and quite cold water is very interesting, i'll try that the next time i get YZ!
I do the opposite: Instead of the recommended 70-80°C, i often use more than 90° because I find that the tea is handling these temperatures quite well and develops a more defined character. Mostly i do it in a kind of gong fu-light style, in a relatively small kyusu with more leaves, and start by 80°, then raising the temperatures during subsequent infusions more and more... this works really well for me.
The other method of using a lot of tea and quite cold water is very interesting, i'll try that the next time i get YZ!
Re: How do YOU brew?
I have some yellow tea languishing in my tea cabinet because I've never been able to brew it to my satisfaction. I think I'll try the gyokuro method (140*) first, and then what I'll call my yancha method (195*).
How do YOU brew?
I also found that some yellow teas work well at lower temperatures. I just throw a few leaves in a gaiwan and keep refilling.
Re: How do YOU brew?
I experiment. I will see what a white/yellow tea is like at a higher temperature like a green tea, and a lower one too.
Re: How do YOU brew?
yellow tea is among the most subtle, and delicate to brew.
I use a Gaiwan or super-thin Zhuni, at a very lower temp, too.
I use a Gaiwan or super-thin Zhuni, at a very lower temp, too.
Re: How do YOU brew?
The most delicious white tea I ever had, was brewed in a large bowl (like a flat rice bowl) and after infusion time laddled in a gaibei with a chinese spoon and from there to the cups. Suggested by a teamaster who was present. Low temperature as well. But the person who brews needs to be quick with the spoon, not so easy…