Cold-Brew Pu'er: A Refreshing Summer Cup
In the heat of summer, hot tea can be hard to face, and cold brew is the perfect answer. Many people think pu'er can only be brewed hot, but cold-brew pu'er has a charm all its own: cold-brewed raw pu'er is clean, sweet, and refreshing, while cold-brewed ripe pu'er is mellow and smooth. Both make a cool cup that quenches thirst.
How Cold Brewing Works
Cold brewing steeps tea leaves in cool water for a long time. At low temperatures, the compounds that make tea bitter and astringent dissolve more slowly and in smaller amounts, while those that bring sweetness and savory umami come out relatively easily, so cold-brew tea is usually sweeter and smoother. Cold brew also extracts less caffeine than hot brewing.
Basic Method
What You'll Need
- Tea: about 8–10 g (or one 8 g dragon pearl, or one pyramid tea bag)
- Water: 500–600 ml of cool boiled water
- Container: a clean glass bottle or cold-water pitcher with a lid
Steps
- Prepare the container: scald it with hot water, or wash it and let it air-dry.
- Quick rinse (recommended): rinse the tea quickly with hot water and pour it off after about 5 seconds, letting compressed leaves open slightly and giving a cleaner brew. This is especially recommended for ripe pu'er.
- Add cool boiled water: put the tea in the container, pour in the cool boiled water, and close the lid.
- Steep in the fridge: refrigerate for 6–8 hours, or set it up the night before and it'll be ready to drink in the morning.
- Strain out the leaves: once it reaches the strength you like, strain out the leaves so it doesn't keep getting stronger.
Cold-Brewing Raw vs. Ripe Pu'er
| Cold-brew raw pu'er | Cold-brew ripe pu'er | |
|---|---|---|
| Liquor color | Pale gold | Amber red |
| Flavor | Clean and sweet, with floral-honey notes | Mellow and smooth, with woody and jujube notes |
| Steeping time | 6–8 hours | 8–10 hours |
| Best for | Those who like a refreshing taste | Those who like a rich, mellow taste |
Cold-Brewing Dragon Pearls
Dragon pearls are rolled tight, and cold water has a hard time opening them. We suggest rinsing once with hot water first to loosen the ball a bit, then putting it in cool boiled water in the fridge. One 8 g dragon pearl with 500–600 ml of cool boiled water is just right, refrigerated for about 8 hours.
Quick Cold-Brew Method
If you can't wait, try the "hot brew, then chill" method:
- Brew the tea strong with half the water (for example, 250 ml of hot water for 1–2 minutes).
- Pour the brew into a glass filled with ice.
- Once the ice melts, the tea is perfectly chilled and just the right strength.
This method gives a more pronounced aroma and is great for serving guests.
Storing Cold-Brew Tea
- Always refrigerate: keep cold-brew tea in the fridge the whole time; don't leave it steeping overnight at room temperature.
- Drink it soon: once the leaves are strained out, we recommend finishing cold-brew tea within 24 hours.
- Keep containers clean: wash them thoroughly after each use and let them dry completely.
- Use clean water: always use cool boiled water or water that's safe to drink straight.
Cold-Brew Variations
- Add a slice of lemon: a slice of lemon in cold-brew raw pu'er makes it sweet-tart and refreshing.
- Pair with fruit: cold-brew pu'er goes great with summer fruits like watermelon and grapes.
- Make it sparkling: add sparkling water to a stronger cold brew for a refreshing pu'er spritzer.
Adjusting Cold-Brew Strength
Cold brew is even harder to mess up than hot brewing. Strength comes down to three variables:
- Amount of tea: more tea makes a stronger brew. 8–10 g to 500–600 ml gives an easy-drinking strength.
- Time: the longer, the stronger. 6 hours is light and refreshing, 8 hours is full, and 10 hours or more is very strong.
- Leaf form: finely broken leaves release flavor fast; compressed tea releases it slowly.
The first time you cold-brew, take a sip at 6 hours before deciding whether to let it steep longer.
When Cold Brew Hits the Spot
- Summer afternoons: an ice-cold glass of cold-brew pu'er cools you down and quenches thirst.
- After exercise: unsweetened cold-brew tea is more refreshing than sugary drinks.
- At the table: with barbecue, fried food, or hot pot, cold-brew pu'er cleanses the palate after rich food.
- Picnics and outings: make it the night before and take it along in an insulated bottle.
Where the Cold-Brew Ratio Comes From
When Taiwan's Tea Research and Extension Station promotes cold-brew tea, the basic ratio it commonly uses is 20 g of tea to 1,000 ml of cool boiled water, steeped in the fridge. Converted for bottles you might use at home:
| Water | Tea | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 500 ml | 8–10 g | One 8 g dragon pearl, or 1–2 tea bags |
| 750 ml | 12–15 g | About two dragon pearls |
| 1,000 ml | 20 g | About two and a half dragon pearls |
Pu'er's large-leaf tea is rich in compounds, so it cold-brews with a full flavor; if you like it lighter, use the lower end of the range.
Cold-Brew Temperature and Time
- Fridge (about 4–7°C): the most stable, with good flavor anywhere from 6 to 10 hours.
- Room-temperature steeping isn't recommended: Taiwan's room temperatures are high, and long steeping at room temperature isn't reassuring.
- Strain when the time's up: once it reaches the strength you like, strain out the leaves so the brew doesn't keep getting stronger and more astringent.
Why Cold-Brew Tea Turns Cloudy
Cold-brew tea in the fridge sometimes turns hazy, which tea drinkers call "cream down" (lenghou hun). This happens when compounds in the brew bind together and come out of solution at low temperatures. It's common in teas rich in compounds, usually clears up again once the tea warms, and doesn't affect drinking. If the brew turns sour, viscous, or smells off, it's been kept too long, so don't drink it.
FAQ
Can I cold-brew pu'er at room temperature? We recommend keeping it in the fridge the whole time. Long steeping at room temperature is less reassuring from a hygiene standpoint.
Can cold-brewed leaves be brewed hot afterward? Yes, but much of the flavor has already been released, so steep longer when brewing hot, or simply simmer them.
How many days does cold-brew tea keep? Once the leaves are strained out, keep it in the fridge and finish it within 24 hours.
How much tea should I use for cold brew? Following the ratio promoted by the Tea Research and Extension Station, about 20 g to 1,000 ml of cool boiled water; for a 500 ml bottle, use 8–10 g, which is one dragon pearl or 1–2 tea bags.
Can I still drink cold-brew tea that's turned cloudy in the fridge? That's "cream down," where compounds in the brew come out of solution at low temperatures, and it usually clears up once the tea warms. As long as there's no sourness, viscosity, or off smell, it's fine to drink.