The most anticipated moment before brewing tea. The water in the kettle transitions from stillness to a boil, first releasing tiny bubbles with a soft sizzle, then building into a rolling, gurgling roar, until steam rises and the spout begins to sing. As the sound rises and falls, the tea drinker’s heart settles into stillness.
Brewing tea has its own rules: for green tea, boil the water to “fish-eye bubbles” (about 80°C); for pu’er, wait for a full rolling boil. No thermometer needed—just listen. The water tells you when it’s ready. When hosting guests, the sound of the water boiling comes first, before the tea is ever poured. This is the ritual of tea—waiting becomes a pleasure, guided by sound.