When brewing Anxi Tieguanyin, the first infusion is typically discarded. This process is called "washing the tea" in Xiangnan, though in many places it's also referred to as "awakening the tea" or "warming the tea." Washing the tea is a very important step when preparing Anxi Tieguanyin.
The main purposes of washing the tea are threefold:
1. To remove dust and impurities;
2. To eliminate any damp or musty odors from the Anxi Tieguanyin;
3. To awaken the flavor of the tea leaves.
From picking to processing and storage, there is no guarantee that harmful particles like dust won't mix with the tea leaves. Washing the tea helps to remove contaminants while preserving its essence. Tea has strong hygroscopic, aging, and odor-absorbing properties (by the way, Xiangnan adds a side note here: another clever use for tea stems is placing them in newly renovated homes to absorb unwanted odors). This means that during storage, tea can easily absorb moisture and strange smells. However, by pouring hot water over the tea during the washing process, these damp and musty odors can be removed.
In fact, according to scholars' research, the term "washing the tea" was first used during the Northern Song Dynasty. Originally, it referred to a phrase used in the tea picking and processing stages, but later extended to the drinking process. After fresh leaves are picked from the tea trees, they go through initial and refined processing, which includes multiple steps such as making green tea, pan-firing, rolling, baking, and screening. These steps not only determine the grade of the tea but also ensure hygiene standards are met. Occasionally, there may be impurities like tea ash or dust, but these can be quickly removed by pouring boiling water over the tea and discarding the first rinse. The primary purpose of the first infusion is to soak the tea, allowing it to unfurl and release its flavors, so that drinkers can quickly experience the aroma of the tea—not just to wash away unhygienic elements.
Many newcomers to brewing Anxi Tieguanyin don't understand why tea needs to be washed. In the art of gongfu tea preparation, washing the tea plays an extremely important role. I hope today's sharing by Xiangnan can offer some help to all tea enthusiasts!
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