Tea aficionados are very particular about the brewing of their tea; whether it is loose or in a tea bag. The water, the temperature and brewing time affects the quality and taste of the final product. Here are some tips on how to brew the “perfect” pot of tea.
- Run cold water from the faucet for at least one minute. Then fill the tea kettle with sufficient water to warm the teapot and
make the tea. Filtered water is often used. - When water is near boiling, pour some into the teapot and swirl it around to warm the pot.
- Measure a rounded teaspoon of tea for each cup of water the teapot holds. Add an extra teaspoon if a strong tea is preferred. The tea may be placed directly in the pot or use a tea infuser or filter. If you put the leaves directly into the teapot, stir the liquid and strain or decant the steeped tea into another heated pot.
- Steeping time depends on the size of the leaf. Any black tea should steep at least three minutes; very few require more than six minutes. Formosa oolong calls for seven minutes, and most green teas about one to three minutes. Green tea is brewed at a lower temperature. Steeping any tea too long can make the tea bitter.
- Pour the tea into the cup before adding milk, lemon or sugar. Do not use milk and lemon together; it can curdle the milk.
When in doubt about the brewing time for a certain type of tea, do a little research. Here’s hoping your next “cuppa” is perfect.
