Brewing White Tea

Choose one of our high-grade white teas from China or India. Choose your brew method. If you are trying a new tea for the first time, we suggest you adopt the multiple-brew method of reusing the leaves.

Single-serve brew method:

You serve once at the end of the brewing time to achieve maximum flavour.

Multiple-serve brew method:

You serve and refill the teapot once or twice during the brewing time. Simply refill or top-up the teapot after each serve.
Each serve has its own distinct character.
First serve highlights aroma.
Second serve strengthens the flavour.
Third serve tastes sweeter and stronger. Not all teas will take a third serve.

Teawares:

For white teas a glass or guywan teapot is best.
Size to suit the number of cups needed.
Small 100ml shallow drinking bowls are best.

Boil the water:

Choose pure, fresh water.
Pre warm the teapot and drinking bowls with boiling water.

Measure the white tea leaves into the teapot:

1 level teaspoon (1.5-2gm) of white tea per 100ml small drinking bowl.
1 heaped teaspoon (3-4gm) of white tea per 200ml cup or large drinking bowl.
Vary the quantity to suit your taste.

Single-serve brew method:

Cool the boiled water to 85-88deg.
Pour the water over the leaves and time the brew.
Brewing times for white teas vary. Some need 4-6 minutes while others may need up to 10 minutes. China white teas generally need 5-6 minutes per brew. India whites need only 3-6 minutes.

Multiple-serve brew method:

Some white teas will yield more serves, during the brew, than others. A good quality Yin Zhen (Silver Needles) will give up to five or six serves and each will have its own unique individual character. An India white tea will give two or three serves.
First serve for aroma: after 1-2 minute, serve into a small cup and refill teapot.
Second serve for delicacy : after another 1-2 minutes, serve and refill. 
Third serve for flavour: after another 1-2 minutes, serve and refill.
Fourth serve full character: etc.

Serving:

White teas take no milk or sugar.

Note:

Do not use boiling water, or you will scald the delicate leaf qualities which give white tea its flavour.