Tips For Perfect Tea, Part 1

Whether you are a fan of the loose-leaf method of brewing tea, or you prefer to stick to the quicker and easier tea bags, here are some tips for getting the best brew from your teapot.

-You can make a pot of tea with just one tea bag, only use two tea bags if you’re planning to add cream or milk to your tea. This is possible without compromising on quality, because the best teas are processed to a smaller size with just as much flavour. This gives them more room to move inside the tea bag, unlike larger orthodox tea leaves.

-Due to the individual tea particles developing a coating of concetrated dried tea on their surface, your brew will benefit if you frequently dip your tea bag in and out of the water.

-Unused brewed tea can be allowed to cool, and then put in the fridge to be made later into iced tea.

-When using loose leaf tea you only need one heaped teaspoon for a pot. Again, increase this only if milk or cream are to be added. Some large-leaf teas such as Oolongs might need more than one teaspoon, and tightly rolled leaves like ‘Gunpowder’ green teas may need less. Experimenting is a good idea with these.

-For conventional black teas water at 212 fahrenheit should be used and the tea allowed to steep for five minutes. For green teas water should be 190 fahrenheit and steeping time at three minutes. Oolong needs 200 fahrenheit water and four minutes brewing time.

There will be more tips in the next newsletter article…