How to Brew Yellow Tea + Tasting Tips From an Expert

Yellow tea is the insider tip among classic Chinese teas. The preparation of yellow tea is an exquisite pleasure and leads through a spectrum of unique flavors. It not only impresses with its unique taste, but also with its valuable ingredients, which can have a positive effect on your health.

In this article, you will receive comprehensive instructions on how to brew yellow tea, including the ideal steeping time, temperature and quantity. I will introduce you to two methods: a simple, straightforward method and the traditional Chinese way. I will also give you tasting tips to take your tea experience to the next level.

What is Yellow tea?

Yellow Tea*, a rare and exclusive type of tea, has its origins in the historic tea regions of China. Yellow tea is made from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis, like the other classic teas Green tea, White tea, Black tea, Pu Erh and Oolong Its special character and health benefits are the result of a unique and complex production process. There are many myths surrounding the exact details of the production process. It is said that only a few monks in China still master the art of producing yellow tea. Even though this is more of a promotional rumor and there are a few yellow tea brands, it is still the rarest type of tea. The annual production is only around 500 kilos. In the past, yellow tea was produced exclusively for the Chinese emperor.

Unlike Green tea, which is heated quickly to stop oxidation, the production process of yellow tea allows it to oxidize slightly, giving it its characteristic color and a gentle, slightly sweet aroma. In general, yellow teas have a very mild taste.

Among the yellow teas, there are different varieties that differ in their production and taste. For beginners, I often recommend varieties such as Huo Shan Huang Ya or, my personal favorite, Yun Shan. Another notable variety is Meng Ding Huang Ya, a yellow tea from China’s Sichuan province, known for its nutty flavor with minor hints of grass and harvested during springtime.

Yellow Tea: Preparation

You will get the best result with careful and conscious preparation of the yellow tea. The traditional Chinese method of tea brewing, called Gong Fu Cha, focuses on every detail from the water temperature to the brewing time to achieve the best flavor and effect of the tea.

While the traditional method is deeply rooted in Chinese tea culture, the Western style offers a simple alternative. This method uses fewer tea leaves for a longer steeping time, extracting all the flavors at once. This overlays individual flavor nuances.

I recommend trying the traditional brewing method, as yellow tea unfolds new flavors with each infusion. Using less water and more tea leaves shortens the tea steep time, allowing you to enjoy a greater number of infusions.

Yellow Tea: Water Temperature

In contrast to Black tea or Oolong, you should use lower water temperatures for yellow tea. Temperatures between 158 – 185 ℉ (70 – 85 C) degrees are ideal for brewing yellow tea. Start with 167 degrees and increase the temperature by 50 ℉ for further infusions.

If you don’t have a kettle with a temperature setting, you can add room temperature water to boiling water. 1/3 cold water to 2/3 boiling water is about 70°C. 1/4 cold water to 3/4 hot water is about 80°C.

Yellow Tea: Steeping Time

High-quality Yellow Tea is not susceptible to being steeped for too long. The yellow tea varieties Yun Shan and Huang Ya, which consist only of the buds and very young leaves, do not become bitter even with long steeping times. However, if you have the cheaper Kekecha variety, you should be careful with the time. This variety is made from older, large leaves of the tea plant, which contain a lot of bitter substances.

The rarity of yellow tea is also reflected in the preparation of yellow tea leaves. In contrast to most other classic teas, relatively long infusion times of 1-2 minutes are used, even when preparing Gong Fu with a larger quantity of tea leaves. Kekecha, again, is an exception. Here, you should assume a brewing time of 30 seconds for Gong Fu preparation.

You will usually find information on the brewing time on the tea packaging. These usually refer to the western way of preparing tea with longer infusion times. This allows you to prepare a maximum of 3 infusions. When you shorten the infusion times and therefore use more tea leaves, you can achieve around 5 infusions.

There is no right or wrong way to make tea. When brewing yellow tea, experiment with the steeping time and temperature to find the ideal taste.

A Simple Way for Brewing Yellow Tea

– Take 2 grams of tea (2 teaspoons) and pour it into a pot.

– Pour 250 ml (8,5 oz) of water over the leaves at 75°C (176 ℉)

– Leave the tea to infuse for 2-4 minutes.

– Repeat for 2-3 infusions, increasing the infusion time by one minute each time.

How to Brew Yellow Tea the Traditional Way

– It’s best to use a clay pot or a porcelain gaiwan. But they can both be expensive or hard to handle. A great easy and cheap option for beginners are glass pots.

– Take 4-5 grams (3-4 tsp) of tea leaves per 150 ml (5 oz) of water.

– Heat the water to 75°C (176 ℉).

– Preheat the empty pot by leaving hot water inside for a short while.

– For the first infusion, leave the tea to infuse for 1-2 minutes.

– When pouring, make sure to distribute the tea evenly between the cups. Fill the cups alternately to ensure an even flavor intensity. It’s even better if you pour the tea into a decanter (also known as a Gong Dao Bei) first.

– Enjoy your delicious drink and repeat the process until the leaves no longer give off any flavor. High-quality yellow tea allows at least five infusions, often even more.

– Extend the infusion time by 5-10 seconds for each subsequent infusion.

Choosing the Right Water

The quality of the water is crucial for the taste of your yellow tea. Soft, mineral-poor water is ideal for accentuating the subtle aromas of the tea. Fresh water with a high oxygen content is preferable. Note that water loses oxygen every time it is boiled.

To get the best out of the taste of your yellow tea, I recommend filtered water or bottled mineral water, especially if the tap water is hard.

Tasting Tips

The traditional way of brewing yellow tea also involves consciously savoring the tea. Hold the tea in your mouth for a few seconds and pay attention to the different flavors. Can you detect floral, fruity or nutty aromas? Compared to other delicate teas like Darjeelings and White Teas, Yellow Tea may also have a herbal, lemony taste. An interesting aspect of yellow tea is its long-lasting, often sweet aftertaste. One trick to perceive the taste more intensely is retro-nasal tasting: Breathe out through your nose while the tea is in your mouth to discover hidden nuances.

It is exciting to follow the development of the aromas with each infusion. Smell the warmed leaves after pouring and enjoy their wonderful fragrance.

After a few infusions, you will probably notice a pleasant effect on your body. Yellow tea often offers a relaxing effect that can range from a slight sense of relaxation to invigorating energy. Tea contains the amino acid L-Theanine, which has a calming effect and can positively influence brain function. L-Theanine promotes relaxation and makes you alert at the same time. It can also stimulate dopamine production.

Storage of Yellow Tea

Proper storage is crucial to preserving the quality and taste of Yellow Tea. Ideally, you should store it in a cool, dark and dry place. The original packaging is generally suitable for storage as long as it can be sealed airtight.

It is important to protect the tea from foreign odors, as tea absorbs odors quickly. Therefore, the kitchen is often not the best place to store tea, especially if the tea packaging is not well sealed. Under the right conditions, yellow tea can keep for up to 2 years.

Summary

Yellow Tea unfolds a subtle and very interesting taste experience that is appealing to both beginners and connoisseurs. The elaborate production of the tea makes it one of the rarest types of tea. In addition to its health benefits, yellow tea offers a wealth of taste sensations. With careful and attentive preparation and tasting, you can unleash the full potential of yellow tea. The traditional preparation method is particularly beneficial as it allows you to enjoy a variety of infusions and experience the different nuances of yellow tea flavors.

If you are undecided about which type of yellow tea to choose, I recommend the fine bud tea “Yun Shan” and “Huang Ya”. These are high-quality varieties with a very interesting taste. If you want to try an inexpensive Yellow Tea to start with, Kekecha is suitable. Kekecha has a very mild taste and a low caffeine content. I always recommend trying two different types of yellow tea in order to form a good opinion, as the varieties can have very different tastes.

An interesting alternative to Yellow Tea is White tea. It is similar to Yellow Tea, but has an even greater variety of types and flavors.

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