Rinse (Wash)
Definition
A brief initial infusion (5–10 seconds) that is discarded rather than drunk. The rinse serves to 'awaken' compressed or aged teas, wash away dust from storage, and pre-heat the leaves so the first drinking infusion extracts more evenly.
Why it matters
Rinsing is standard practice for pu-erh and heavily roasted oolongs, but unnecessary (and wasteful) for most green and white teas. Knowing when to rinse and when to skip it helps you get the most out of every tea session.