Red tea and green tea are often compared, but they're quite different. While green tea is unfermented, red tea undergoes full fermentation. Green tea is cool in nature, while red tea is warm. Green tea has a clear, greenish brew, while red tea brews to a rich, vibrant red color.

In China, we tend to prefer green tea, but red tea still holds the second spot in the country's tea consumption. While we're all familiar with the green tea brewing process, many still wonder if they can brew red tea the same way.

The good news is, red tea can be brewed in multiple ways. Let's explore how to get the best out of red tea!

Brewing Red Tea in a Cup? Absolutely!

The traditional method for brewing green tea is the cup method, but does this work for red tea as well? The answer is yes! You can brew red tea in a cup just like green tea.

Here's how you can do it:

What You Need:

• A tall glass cup (about 250ml)

• 2g of dry tea

• Mineral or purified water

How to Brew:

1. Boil the water and let it cool for a few minutes after boiling.

2. Add the dry tea leaves into the glass cup.

3. Pour the cooled water into the glass cup, ensuring the temperature is around 80°C–90°C.

Key Points to Remember:

• The tea-to-water ratio should be 100:1.

• For a glass cup, fill it about 70%-80% full, using 2-3g of tea. Red tea is fully fermented, so the brew will steep quickly and become quite strong. Don't overdo the tea leaves, as it can make the tea bitter.

• Aim to drink your tea within 10 minutes of brewing, and 3 infusions are ideal. After the third infusion, the tea may become too weak.

Tea Separation Makes for a Better Brew

While brewing red tea in a cup works, there's an even better way to enhance the flavor: using a teapot to separate the tea from the water.

Here's how to do it:

What You Need:

• A gaiwan (a traditional Chinese teapot, about 150ml in size)

• 3g of dry tea

• Mineral or purified water

How to Brew:

1. Boil the water and let it cool for a few minutes.

2. Add the tea leaves into the gaiwan.

3. Quickly pour out the first round of tea, called "washing the tea."

4. Pour the brewed tea into a serving cup.

Key Points to Remember:

• The tea-to-water ratio should be 50:1.

• Red tea's essence releases quickly, so don't let it steep for too long. With the gaiwan method, it's best to pour out the tea immediately after brewing.

• You can brew red tea 3–4 times using this method. Pour the tea into a serving cup for a more even taste.

How to Flavor Your Red Tea

While green tea matches the reserved, understated character of the Chinese culture, red tea, with its bold flavors, has become popular in Western countries that appreciate strong personalities.

Green tea is typically consumed as-is, while red tea is often mixed or flavored. If you're unsure about how to flavor your red tea, a simple recipe is to add lemon. This combination is especially refreshing in summer.

What You Need:

• 2g of red tea

• 10g of white sugar (or honey)

• 1 fresh lemon

• Mineral or purified water

How to Make Lemon Red Tea:

1. Add 2g of red tea into a cup, then pour about 200ml of boiling water over it. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.

2. Strain the tea leaves and retain the brewed tea.

3. Add 10g of white sugar into the tea (or honey if you prefer).

4. Wash the lemon, slice it, and remove the seeds.

5. Let the tea cool to 60°C–70°C, then add 2–3 lemon slices and squeeze the lemon juice into the tea. Drop the lemon slices into the cup.

6. Let the tea chill in the fridge for a refreshing, flavored drink.

Key Points to Remember:

• The sugar-to-water ratio should be 1:20. For 200ml of tea, add 10g of sugar. If you like sweeter tea, feel free to adjust the amount.

• Adding lemon to hot water can destroy its vitamin C content, so it's best to add lemon when the tea has cooled to a mild temperature.

Conclusion: Perfect Your Red Tea Brewing!

Now that you know how to brew red tea in different ways, we hope you can enjoy your tea time even more. Whether you prefer to brew it in a cup, use a teapot, or try a new twist with lemon, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the full richness of red tea.

So, Lykkers, which method are you going to try first? Let us know how your tea turns out! Happy brewing!