The most charming thing about Jin Xuan tea is its natural milky aroma, even without adding milk. But with the same tea, even slight differences in water temperature and time can make a noticeable difference in taste. This article clearly explains every detail of brewing Jin Xuan tea well, so you can get it right the first time.
CONTENTS
Key Points of This Article
1. 3 key elements: water temperature, time, and ratio
2. Choice of teaware
3. Cold brew tips
4. Repeated infusions and storage
How to Brew Jin Xuan Tea: Master the 3 Key Elements
To brew a delicious cup of Jin Xuan tea, first understand these three key points:
Water Temperature
90–95°C
Common starting range
First Infusion
50–60sec
Extend 5–10 seconds with each infusion
Tea-to-Water Ratio
1:50
Adjustable to taste
Water Temperature
A common starting point is 90–95°C, and using boiling water directly is generally not recommended. Jin Xuan tea has a delicate flavor, and if the temperature is too high, the milky aroma and sweetness may actually become harder to express fully.
Time
50–60 seconds for the first infusion, then extend each infusion by 5–10 seconds. This allows the tea leaves to unfurl gradually, so each infusion has its own layer—milky aroma in the early infusions, pronounced sweetness in the middle, and clean sweetness in the later ones.
Ratio
1g : 50ml is a suitable starting point. If you like it richer, increase the amount of tea leaves; if you prefer it lighter, reduce it.
BESTEA’s Alishan Jin Xuan comes from high-altitude tea gardens, with delicate milky aroma and sweetness, making it perfect for getting to know the classic flavor of Jin Xuan tea.
View Alishan Jin Xuan → Choice of Teaware: Make the Tea Liquor Taste Even Better
Most Recommended
Gaiwan
It makes it easy to control temperature and time, allows quick infusions and quick pouring so each brew is precise, and also makes it easy to observe how the leaves unfold.
Advanced Choice
Small Teapot
It retains heat well and suits more experienced tea drinkers, making it easier to control the strength and rhythm of the tea liquor.
Used Together
Fairness Cup + Tasting Cup
Pour the tea liquor into a fairness cup to even out the concentration, then divide it into tasting cups so every cup has the same strength.
Brewing good Jin Xuan tea starts with the tea leaves
BESTEA’s Alishan Jin Xuan shows delicate milky aroma and sweetness. If you want an easier introduction, you can also try whole-leaf tea bags, which are even more convenient for brewing.
Cold Brew Tips for Jin Xuan Tea
Cold-brewed Jin Xuan tea is a very popular way to enjoy it in summer—under low-temperature extraction, the milky aroma is usually gentler, the sweetness more obvious, and the bitterness and astringency relatively less pronounced:
1
Take 5g of Jin Xuan tea leaves and place them into a clean container.
2
Add 500ml of cold water (filtered water or mineral water).
3
Cover it and refrigerate it in the fridge for 6–8 hours.
4
Remove the tea leaves, refrigerate it, and finish drinking it within 24 hours.
If you want to brew it again after finishing the first round, it is recommended to add cold water again immediately within a short time and drink it as soon as possible. The second round is usually lighter than the first, but it can still retain some sweetness.
Want an easier way to cold brew Jin Xuan? BESTEA’s Milky Jin Xuan whole-leaf tea bags can simply be dropped into a cold-water bottle and taken with you anywhere.
View Jin Xuan Whole-Leaf Tea Bags → Can Jin Xuan Tea Be Rebrewed?
Jin Xuan tea can generally be brewed about 3–4 times. If the quality and leaf integrity are better, the number of brews can usually go even higher. The first few infusions show a clear milky aroma, the middle infusions highlight the returning sweetness, and the later infusions turn clean, sweet, and mellow.
1st–2nd Infusions
Clear milky aroma
3rd–4th Infusions
Pronounced sweet aftertaste
5th Infusion+
Clean, sweet, and mellow
For the 4th–5th infusion, it is recommended to extend the steeping time to 1.5–2 minutes so the tea leaves can fully release their remaining aroma. When the liquor color becomes noticeably lighter and the aroma weakens, it is time to consider switching to fresh tea.
Storage Method and Best Drinking Period
Storage Environment
After sealing, store it in a cool and dry place, avoiding direct sunlight and contamination from odors. Use an opaque airtight jar or a vacuum-sealed bag.
Light-Roast Jin Xuan
It is recommended to drink it sooner in order to preserve its milky aroma and sweetness.
Medium-Roast Jin Xuan
It is relatively easier to store, and its flavor expression is usually more stable.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Frequently Asked Questions
Q Why does Jin Xuan tea have a milky aroma?
The milky aroma of Jin Xuan tea comes from the characteristics of the cultivar itself (TTES No. 12), not from added flavoring. This cultivar naturally develops a milk-like aroma during processing. High-altitude Jin Xuan also often gives the impression of a more delicate milky aroma and more concentrated sweetness, although the actual result is still influenced by processing and roasting.
Q Is Jin Xuan tea suitable for beginners?
Very suitable. Jin Xuan usually has a softer and sweeter mouthfeel, making it one of the more beginner-friendly choices for many people.
Q Can Jin Xuan tea be cold brewed?
Yes, and after cold brewing, the milky aroma usually becomes gentler, the taste sweeter, and the bitterness and astringency relatively less obvious. Follow the 5g:500ml ratio and refrigerate it for 6–8 hours.
Q How can you tell the quality of Jin Xuan tea?
Good Jin Xuan tea leaves usually look tighter and dark green. After brewing, the milky aroma should feel natural, the tea liquor should be golden and bright, and the taste should be sweet without bitterness or astringency. If the milky aroma smells overly intense or unnatural, it is worth paying closer attention to the source and processing method.
Q If it is your first time drinking Jin Xuan tea, how should you brew it?
For the first time, it is recommended to start with hot brewing, following the basic ratio of 90°C / 60 seconds / 1g:50ml, so you can experience Jin Xuan’s milky aroma and sweetness. After that, try cold brewing as well to compare the differences between the two methods.
“Jin Xuan tea is not hard to brew—the hard part is realizing for the first time that it can taste this good. Master the water temperature and time, use good tea leaves, and let your own taste guide the rest. Try a few more infusions, and you will find the ratio that belongs to you.”
TASTE THE SOFTNESS
A cup of Jin Xuan gently softens your everyday life
Taiwanese high-mountain Jin Xuan tea has a natural milky aroma that comes from the cultivar itself. BESTEA carefully selects Jin Xuan teas suitable for daily drinking, letting you slowly taste the gentleness of the mountains and forests.
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