Should You Discard the First Brew of Tea? Three Cases Explained Once and for All!
When brewing tea, have you ever hesitated over whether to pour out the first brew or keep it? Some say the first brew washes away dirt and impurities; others say the first brew is the essence, and pouring it out is a waste. Who’s right? I’m Shuochake, and this is episode four. Today I’ll clear this up for you in one go.
Different teas are handled differently, so I’ll divide them directly into three categories.
Category 1: Must be poured out , compressed teas, aged teas, and old white tea and old dark tea that have been stored for years.
During production and storage, these teas inevitably pick up dust and impurities. They are also tightly compressed, so the leaves haven’t opened up, and the first brew barely releases any flavor. The correct method is to quickly rinse them with boiling water for 3–5 seconds, then pour it off. This step is called “awakening the tea,” not “washing the tea.” The goal is to help the leaves open up and wake up the aroma.
Category 2: Can be kept or poured out , oolong tea, black tea, and white tea, such as Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao, Lapsang Souchong (正山小种), and Silver Needle （白毫银针）.
These teas are cleanly processed and are not tightly compressed. Strictly speaking, they don’t need washing. But many people habitually discard the first brew, mainly to moisten the leaves so they absorb a little water and release flavor better in the second brew. Whether to keep it is up to you.
If the leaves are tightly rolled, you can quickly moisten them with boiling water and then pour it off. If the leaves are loose, you can drink the first brew directly. My habit: for oolong tea, I pour off the first brew as a moistening step; for black tea and white tea, I keep the first brew, because their aroma and flavor come out in the first infusion.
Category 3: Never pour out, green tea and yellow tea, such as Longjing, Biluochun, and Junshan Silver Needle （君山银针）.
These teas are tender and have a delicate, fresh aroma. The first brew is the essence. If you pour it out, you’re throwing away that fresh, sweet, refreshing first sip. The correct method is to drink it directly. Green and yellow teas are cleanly processed, and the buds are fine and tender, so they need no washing or moistening. Brew with water around 80°C, and the first brew already gives you the purest freshness and sweetness.
So next time you brew tea, don’t struggle over it anymore. Look at what tea you have and follow these principles.
written by siyutao art team
