Many people believe that during the processing, transportation, and storage of Tea leaves, they come into contact with a lot of dust, tea fuzz, and impurities. Rinsing the tea can clean these off, making the tea healthier and more hygienic to Drink. Is this true?
Scientific tests show that most bacteria and microorganisms are killed at Water temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius. Typically, the water temperature used for brewing tea is not lower than 80 degrees.
Generally speaking, green teas do not need to be rinsed, especially tender shoots picked before the Ming Festival, which can be directly brewed using mid-dunk or top-dunk methods. For black teas and oolong teas, you may Rinse them once with hot water, but it's also fine to skip this step. Personally, I usually choose not to rinse the tea. Teas that are generally recommended for rinsing are compressed teas, particularly aged compressed teas. The rinsing process not only gives the impression of washing away impurities (which doesn't really happen) but also serves as a way to awaken the tea (the key effect of rinsing compressed teas).
If you do rinse the tea, how should you do it?
Green teas typically do not require rinsing.
For black teas, rinsing is generally not recommended.
For oolong teas, you can rinse them with 90-95 degree Celsius hot water, pouring out after about 3 seconds. Do not rinse for too long, as this could wash away some of the valuable components in the tea. When brewing tea, you often see a layer of foam on the surface. This is not caused by dirt but rather by the release of tea saponins. These saponin compounds are highly water-soluble and foaming, forming a layer on the surface of the tea Infusion immediately upon brewing. This is harmless and safe to consume. In fact, tea saponins have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
For aged white teas, Pu'er teas, and brick teas, it is best to rinse them before brewing. As mentioned earlier, the purpose of rinsing here is more to awaken the natural transformation that occurs over time in the tea, so it is more like an awakening process. Some people claim that due to severe environmental pollution, there is a risk of heavy metal contamination in tea leaves, and they wish to remove these elements through rinsing. However, this is not possible, as most heavy metals are not water-soluble and are difficult to extract within a short period. It is virtually impossible to remove them through rinsing.
When rinsing compressed teas, you can allow a slightly longer duration. Some teas may require two rinses to fully awaken their character. This requires the brewer to have extensive experience and to consider the actual condition of the tea when determining the appropriate rinsing time.