“Sitting at night in a mountain pavilion, drawing spring water to boil tea.  As the water and fire battle it out, the scent of the pine billows through the trees as I pour a cup, bathed in light from the clouds.  The profound pleasure of this moment is hard to convey in words to those of common tastes.” — Ming Dynasty Literati

Lu Yu recommended brewing tea in fresh spring water or filtered water.  Ideally, he suggested you brew the tea with water from the region in which the tea grew.  Hard water contains a high level of calcium, which deadens the flavor, and forms a surface film.  The added chemicals – chlorine and fluoride – diminish the flavor of the tea.  Adding a drop of lemon juice or sugar helps the film disappear.  Water temperature also affects tea’s flavor, aroma, and color.

Chinese tea scholars developed a visual system to approximate water temperature:

• ”Column of steam steadily rising” – This occurs when visible steam rises at approximately 170-180 F.  Green teas taste best brewed at this temperature.




• “Fish eyes” – This is when large lazy bubbles start to break at the surface at about 180-200 F.  Oolong teas brew best at this temperature.




• “String of pearls” – This is the moment at which tiny bubbles appear around the perimeter of the pot at about 190-200 F.  Black tea tastes great brewed at this temperature.




• “Turbulent waters” – This is the full rolling boil at about 200-212 F – the perfect temperature to brew Pu-erh teas.

White teas, Japanese green teas, and other delicate spring green teas should be brewed in water about 160-170 F.  The delicate leaves burn in water that is too hot.

Heating water to the perfect temperature is easy.  There are three practical methods to achieve the perfect water temperature for your tea:

1.  Heat fresh cold water to the perfect temperature.
2.  Boil the water and then add cold water.
3.  Bring the water to a full rolling boil and then let the water cool to the perfect temperature.

Ninety-nine percent of tea is water.  Water quality and temperature are key elements to bring out all the flavors, antioxidants, and aromas in a perfect cup of tea.

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