This intensifies the flavour of tea and reduces caffeine levels. Using this method, the first brew is for washing the leaves and is poured away, so it is not consumed. This also has the effect of washing away much of the caffeine which is highly soluble in water.
Tea culture is a practice of continuous improvement for making tea, appreciating tea, smelling tea, drinking tea and tasting tea. This practice has gradually developed into a generally accepted principle and hence formed a cultural phenomenon within Chinese culture. Any tea is best enjoyed using the traditional Chinese method of tea-making known as 功夫茶Gōngfūchá (Tea With Great Skill). This highly controlled method of tea-making is characterized by using small teapots and multiple brews with very short steeping times of just a few seconds.