You don’t need complicated tools—just quality Lishan tea, basic tea utensils, hot water, and an appreciation for fine tea. Brewing Lishan tea is that simple!
How to Brew Lishan Tea for the Best Taste
The recommended brewing method follows the standard approach, which is the most commonly used method for Taiwanese high mountain teas. Prepare 6–10 grams of Lishan tea, a 100ml tea bowl (or a regular mug if unavailable), a teaspoon, a timer (a phone timer works too), a teacup, and hot water at 100°C.
Step 1: Preheat the Tea Utensils
Rinse the tea bowl, teaspoon, teacup, and fairness pitcher with hot water. This not only cleans off any dust but also warms the utensils, preventing a drop in water temperature when brewing the tea.
Step 2: Add the Right Amount of Lishan Tea
Place 6–10 grams of Lishan tea into the tea bowl. Adjust the amount based on your preference. If it’s your first time brewing, start with 6 grams.
Step 3: Pour in 100°C Hot Water
Pour hot water into the tea bowl. If your tea bowl holds 100ml, fill it up completely. Using a lid is optional. Start the timer for 3 minutes.
Step 4: Taste the Tea
After 3 minutes, use a teaspoon to scoop the tea into a teacup and taste it. Assess the strength and flavor. If it’s to your liking, pour all the tea into the fairness pitcher. If it’s too light, continue steeping and taste every minute until you reach the ideal flavor.
Step 5: Adjust the Tea Amount and Steeping Time
After your first brew, you should have a basic understanding of this tea’s characteristics. You can then use fresh leaves and fine-tune the tea amount and steeping time to find the best brewing method for this particular Lishan tea.
These five steps provide a solid foundation for brewing Lishan tea. You can typically steep Lishan tea 3–5 times. For the second infusion, extend steeping time to 5 minutes, increasing it further with each subsequent brew.
If the tea doesn’t taste right, try adjusting the tea-to-water ratio. A standard range for Lishan tea is 6–10 grams, and tweaking the steeping time accordingly will help you unlock its best flavor profile.
The Flavor Profile of Premium Lishan Tea
A high-quality Lishan tea should have a fresh, sweet, and mellow taste with minimal bitterness and a rich aftertaste. According to our standards, a good Lishan tea should not turn bitter even after a 10-minute steeping and should leave a lingering fragrance in the throat.
Lishan Tea Brewing FAQ
Q: Does Lishan tea contain caffeine?
Yes, Lishan tea contains caffeine, but significantly less than coffee or black tea. Studies show that 100ml of tea contains about 15–55mg of caffeine. If you want to reduce caffeine intake, shorten the steeping time or discard the first infusion, as it contains the highest caffeine content.
Q: Why does my tea taste bitter and astringent?
You may be using too much tea or steeping for too long. Try reducing the tea amount and shortening the steeping time. Following the 6g / 3-minute method, a good Lishan tea should not be bitter or astringent.
Q: Can Lishan tea be cold-brewed?
Yes! Cold brewing requires more time and a lower tea-to-water ratio. Try using 2 grams of tea in a 1000ml water bottle and refrigerate for 8 hours.
Q: Should I discard the first infusion of Lishan tea?
Absolutely not! Taiwanese high mountain tea is produced in clean and well-maintained environments. Local tea farmers, factories, and merchants never discard the first infusion. In fact, the first infusion is often the best-tasting—don’t waste good tea!