Tea 101: Water for tea

  Water in three forms: Good water is essential for good tea.

Many people don't consider how water affects the flavor of tea. Here are some tips for ensuring that the water you use for tea enhances each cup (or pot) that you brew:

Water Quality: Quality of water used in making tea is extremely important:

• Cold, fresh water has more oxygen and will produce a more flavorful cup of tea. Resist the shortcut of filling your kettle with hot water to save time.
• Not all bottled water is good for tea: Spring waters can be wonderful (experiment to find the right brands to pair with the right teas), but distilled water can make tea taste flat. Read labels: Some bottled waters are nothing but expensive filtered tap water in a bottle that will end up in a landfill.
• If you use tap water to make your tea, be sure to filter it. Some tea purists advocate the use of bamboo charcoal for tea water, but any standard water filter will do nicely.
• If you use a water filter, be sure to change the filters regularly.
• If you are using a water filter pitcher, don't store it in the refrigerator: It will take on refrigerator odors that will contaminate your tea. Wash the pitcher on a regular basis.
• Ice cubes are water too: Ice will take on freezer odors, so use freshly made, or bought, ice when preparing iced tea.
• Be sure keep your water kettle clean and descaled.

Water Quantity: Make sure that you are using the correct amount of water when preparing your tea.

• Check package directions for the amount of water to use when steeping your tea. The "standard" measurement is normally 8 ounces, but I have seen manufacturers quote as little as 6 ounces and as much as 12 ounces in their brewing instructions.
• Don't just fill a mug or cup and assume you have the right amount of water for tea. Mugs and cups vary in the amount of water they hold: Too much water can mean that your tea is weak and flavorless. Too much water can result in bitter tea.

Water Temperature: Different teas demand different water temperatures: Too-hot water can scorch tea, resulting in a bitter and disagreeable brew. Water that is too cool, on the other hand, can fail to extract the full flavor of the leaf.

Use these water temperatures as a guide (while also paying attention to package instructions and your own experiments): 

• Water for black tea should be between 208F-212F
• Water for oolong tea should be between 185F-195F
• Water for Chinese green teas should be between 170F-180F, while recommended water temperatures for Japanese green teas can be as low as 140F. Speak with your tea merchant regarding suggested temperatures to avoid ruining your green tea.
• Water temperatures for white tea are also variable: Some white teas are so subtle that too-cool water will blunt what flavor they do have, yet too-hot water will scorch the leaves.  I have seen package directions advising temperatures as low as 158F and as high as 180F. Experiment with your white teas to find their best steeping temperature.

To ensure correct temperature measurement, use a thermometer.  I strongly recommend the red liquid thermometer sold by TeaGshwendner: It's design is great for use with both deep water kettles and teapots as well as small brewing vessels such as gaiwans (a Chinese covered cup used for brewing and drinking tea).