Method for quenching a fluid product stream containing water and hydrocarbons from an oxygenate-to-olefin (OTO) synthesis reactor in a quench system comprising several quench stages, comprising the following steps: (a) introducing the product stream into a first quench stage, contacting the product stream in the first quench stage with a water-containing first quench medium to form a first quench fraction and a first exit stream, discharging the first quench fraction and the first exit stream from the first quench stage, recycling a first portion of the first quench fraction to the first quench stage as the first quench medium, (b) introducing the first exit stream into a second quench stage, contacting the first exit stream in the second quench stage with a water-containing second quench medium to form a second quench fraction and a second exit stream, discharging the second quench fraction and the second exit stream from the second quench stage, wherein (c) a second portion of the first quench fraction not returned to the first quench stage is combined with at least a portion of the second quench fraction from the second quench stage to form an overall stream, and (d) this overall stream is supplied to at least one first phase separator in which the overall stream is separated into a third liquid exit stream comprising predominantly hydrocarbons and an aqueous fraction, and (e) at least a first portion of the aqueous fraction is returned as a second quench medium after step (b), wherein (f) the inlet temperature of the first quench medium into the first quench stage is adjusted such that the first quench fraction consists of water to an extent of at least 70% by weight, preferably at least 80% by weight, most preferably at least 90% by weight, and wherein (g) the temperature of the second portion of the first quench fraction is lower than the exit temperature of the second quench fraction. (a) introducing the product stream into a first quench stage, contacting the product stream in the first quench stage with a water-containing first quench medium to form a first quench fraction and a first exit stream, discharging the first quench fraction and the first exit stream from the first quench stage, recycling a first portion of the first quench fraction to the first quench stage as the first quench medium, (b) introducing the first exit stream into a second quench stage, contacting the first exit stream in the second quench stage with a water-containing second quench medium to form a second quench fraction and a second exit stream, discharging the second quench fraction and the second exit stream from the second quench stage, wherein (c) a second portion of the first quench fraction not returned to the first quench stage is combined with at least a portion of the second quench fraction from the second quench stage to form an overall stream, and (d) this overall stream is supplied to at least one first phase separator in which the overall stream is separated into a third liquid exit stream comprising predominantly hydrocarbons and an aqueous fraction, and (e) at least a first portion of the aqueous fraction is returned as a second quench medium after step (b), wherein (f) the inlet temperature of the first quench medium into the first quench stage is adjusted such that the first quench fraction consists of water to an extent of at least 70% by weight, preferably at least 80% by weight, most preferably at least 90% by weight, and wherein (g) the temperature of the second portion of the first quench fraction is lower than the exit temperature of the second quench fraction. <EOS>