Do tea leaves need to be washed before brewing

Whether tea needs to be washed before brewing depends on the type of tea and processing technology. Young leaf teas such as green tea and white tea usually do not need to be washed, while fermented teas such as black tea and pu erh tea are recommended to be washed quickly to remove impurities. Green tea, white tea and other unfermented or slightly fermented tea leaves are usually subjected to high-temperature withering or drying treatment during processing, resulting in less surface impurities. The beneficial components such as amino acids and tea polyphenols in tender tea leaves are easily soluble in water, and washing the tea may lead to nutrient loss. When brewing this type of tea, it is recommended to soak it directly in water at a suitable temperature, and the first tea soup can be consumed. Post fermented teas such as black tea and Pu erh tea, as well as some compressed teas, may adsorb dust or microbial metabolites during long-term storage. It is recommended to quickly rinse this type of tea with boiling water for 5-10 seconds, which can clean the surface of the tea and awaken the inner essence of the tea. Half fermented teas such as oolong tea can be washed according to personal habits. If washing is necessary, the washing time should be controlled within 3 seconds to avoid excessive washing of tea flavor substances.

When washing tea, attention should be paid to water temperature and time control. Using water that is close to boiling to quickly rinse can effectively kill bacteria and remove dust. For aged tea or tea leaves with unknown storage environment, 1-2 rapid washes can be added appropriately. Regardless of whether the tea is washed or not, filtered or purified water should be used when brewing to avoid water quality affecting the taste of the tea soup. Daily tea drinking can adjust the cleaning method according to the condition of the tea leaves, and high-quality tea leaves stored properly usually do not need to be deliberately washed.