How to choose the right water for your tea with the TDS Tester

The importance of water in tea infusion

When we brew a cup of tea, we often pay close attention to the quality of the leaves, the temperature of the water, and the brewing time. However, the water we use is equally important. Its mineral and impurity content can affect the taste, aroma, and extraction of the substances in the tea.

One of the most useful tools for choosing the best water is the TDS Tester. But what is the TDS and how can we use it to improve our tea experience? Let’s find out together.

What is TDS and why is it important for tea?

TDS is short for Total Dissolved Solids and refers to the amount of mineral salts, organic components and other particles present in one liter of water. The unit of TDS is expressed in mg/L or ppm (parts per million).

A higher TDS value indicates a higher concentration of minerals and other substances, while a low value indicates “purer” water. But what value is ideal for tea?

The ideal TDS for tea infusion

Depending on the type of tea we brew, the amount of minerals in the water can enhance or alter the flavor. Here is a guide to recommended TDS values:

• TDS between 30 and 80 mg/L → Ideal for green and white tea
  • Delicate teas such as Gyokuro or the Sencha Zairai benefit from water with few minerals, as their sweet and fresh notes can be masked by water that is too hard.
• TDS between 80 and 150 mg/L → Perfect for oolong and black tea
  • A moderate level of minerals helps balance the sweetness and body of these teas without covering their complex flavors.
• TDS over 150 mg/L → Not recommended for most teas
  • Water with too many minerals can make tea bitter or alter its flavor profile. However, some infusions of puer tea may benefit from a water richer in minerals.

How to use the TDS Tester to measure water quality

The TDS Tester is a simple and intuitive device to use, perfect for testing water quality before infusion. Here’s how to use it in just a few steps:

1. Fill a glass with the water to be tested.
2. Turn on the TDS Tester and immerse it in water.
3. Read the value shown on the display.
4. Compare the obtained value with the table above to choose the most suitable water for the type of tea you want to brew.

If the TDS of the water is too high, you can improve its quality by using filtered or low fixed residue water to achieve a more balanced brew.

The best water for your tea: practical tips

🔹 Evita l’acqua distillata: non contiene minerali ed è troppo “piatta” per l’estrazione del tè.
🔹 Attenzione all’acqua del rubinetto: può avere un TDS variabile e contenere cloro, che altera il sapore del tè.
🔹 Opta per acque minerali con residuo fisso adeguato: controlla sempre l’etichetta della bottiglia per scegliere l’acqua più adatta al tuo tipo di tè.

Per ricapitolare

Scegliere la giusta acqua per l’infusione del tè è fondamentale per esaltare al massimo il sapore e l’aroma delle foglie. Il TDS Tester ti aiuta a controllare la qualità dell’acqua e a personalizzare la tua esperienza di degustazione in modo semplice e veloce.

Se vuoi portare la tua passione per il tè a un livello superiore, scopri il nostro TDS Tester e inizia a sperimentare con l’acqua perfetta per ogni infusione!