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How to serve Oolong tea

Since Oolong tea is a kind of tea enjoy its aroma, it is very important to brew it in shch a way that it's full fragrance is brought out. The amount of tea leaves you use is based on what kind of tea leaves you use. If the leaves are a firmly tightened kind, you can fill 25% of the tea pot with the leaves. If the leaves are the loose kind, you can fill up the tea pot with the leaves. Commonly, 70 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius is the most suitable water temperature for brewing Oolong tea. The best temperature also differs depending on what kind of tea leaves you use. For example, if the leaves are firm, it is better to use a higher temperature water. If the leaves are loose, it is better to use lower temperature water. However, if the temperature of hot water is too low, the fragrance and the taste becomes weak and dull. Appropriate brewing time also differs depending on the amount of tea leaves you put into the pot or the temperature of hot water you use. However, average brewing time for Oolong tea is about 3 minutes, but this can be changed based on your preference of taste. It is said of Oolong tea, you enjoy the aroma on the first serving, and enjoy the taste on the second serving. You can continuously enjoy the tea by adding hot water into the pot for about 3 times without changing the leaves.

(Tadakazu Takeo)