One of the greatest appeals of Chinese tea is the ability to follow the changes in flavor and aroma over many infusions (sometimes more than 10) using the same tea leaves. However, it is common to encounter pitfalls such as "the flavor suddenly becoming weak around the third infusion" or "the tea becoming too astringent to drink in the later stages." Here, we explain the theory of designing an "infusion time curve" to maintain deliciousness from the first steep to the last.
1. The Basic Principle of Infusion Time: From a U-Curve to a Gentle Upward Slope
In many styles of Gongfu tea, infusion times do not increase uniformly, but follow a curve based on how much the leaves have unfurled.
- Rinsing (0 seconds): Moistens the leaves and "wakes them up." Pour the hot water in and drain immediately.
- 1st–2nd Infusions (Short time): Because the aroma on the surface of the leaves dissolves rapidly, an extremely short infusion of about 5–10 seconds is sufficient.
- 3rd–5th Infusions (Maintain or slight increase): As the leaves have fully opened and are at their peak for flavor extraction, maintain the infusion time at 5–15 seconds rather than extending it abruptly.
- 6th Infusion and beyond (Gradual extension): To draw out the deeper components from within the leaves, add 10–15 seconds to the infusion time with each successive round.
2. Estimated Infusion Time Table by Tea Variety
| Tea Variety | Leaf Amount (100ml Vessel) | 1st–3rd Infusions | 4th–6th Infusions | 7th–10th Infusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Dancong (Guangdong Oolong) | 6–7g | 0–5 seconds (instant) | 5–15 seconds | 20–45 seconds |
| Wuyi Yancha (Minbei Oolong) | 7–8g | 5–10 seconds | 15–25 seconds | 35–60 seconds |
| Taiwan High Mountain Tea (Ball-rolled Oolong) | 6–7g | 15–20 seconds (until the balls unfurl) | 15–20 seconds | 30–60 seconds |
| Ripe Pu-erh | 7–8g | 5–10 seconds | 10–20 seconds | 30–60 seconds |
3. Recovery When the Flavor Becomes Too Strong
If you accidentally steep the tea too long and it becomes overly bitter or astringent, you can restore the overall balance by adding a little boiling water to the strong tea left in the fairness cup (dilution), or by boldly cutting the next infusion time to 0 seconds (pouring immediately) to blend it with the next steep.
