The Art Of Brewing Tea
We have all seen people brewing tea at some point in our lives. You may even have tasted one that is so delicious you felt that you could drink several more cups. Having experienced this you may have wondered why your own tea doesn't quite stack up. So what is the secret to brewing tea that tastes like pure heaven?
Firstly you need to understand that the manner of brewing tea for each type of tea is different and specific and geared to yield a fragrant and delicious cup of tea for that type. You must follow the specific process for your chosen variety of tea. Then experiment a little finding the right process for brewing tea which works for you. Remember that when you are brewing tea, your sense of taste will inform you when you have a good tasting cup of tea or not.
The other fact which you need to know when you are brewing tea is that different tea varieties have varying steeping times.Steeping TimesThe steeping time is the amount of time you leave the tea leaves in hot water in order to infuse the flavor of the tea into the water. The longer the tea leaves are left to steep the stronger the tea will be.. You should try to adhere to these steeping times when you brew tea otherwise you may end up with a brew which is bitter to the taste. So let's see what the steeping times for some of the different types of teas are:
- » Green tea needs to steep for about 2 to 3 minutes
- » Black tea needs to steep for about 3 to5 minutes
- » White tea needs to steep for about 1 to 3 minutes
- » Herbal (tisanes) need to steep for about 5 to 8 minutes
- » Oolong tea needs to steep for about 3 to 5 minutes
You will also need to have time to make the tea as otherwise you will lack the time needed for brewing tea in a manner which will provide flavorful tea. The first step in learning the art of brewing tea is to fill your kettle - either an electrical or whistling one (the later is preferred. See our article on Tea Accessories) - with fresh natural spring water. You will need to bring the water to a boil, but keep in mind that you can't allow the water to over boil as this will spoil the tea.
A good test of how much impact water has during the process of brewing tea. Make two cups of tea, one with good quality water and the other with plain tap water and carry out your own taste test.
At this point we will discuss individually the methods of brewing tea for each of the different main types of tea
- » How to Brew Oolong Tea
- » How to Brew Green Tea
- » How to Brew Black Tea
- » How to Brew White Tea
After going through the individual articles on brewing tea above you will understand that while there are some differences in the art of brewing tea for each type, the main facts for brewing tea remain the same - basically to brew tea you need:
- » A tea pot or two
- » Fresh spring water or other good quality water
- » A high quality tea of your choice
- » Time to allow the tea to steep
- » A strainer, tea basket or tea ball to remove the tea leaves out of the infusion
- » And a warmed tea cup or mug
With all of these items at the ready to brew tea and some care you are now ready to brew yourself the perfect cup of tea. Like drinking tea, brewing tea also has the ability to sooth away the cares and troubles of the day. The perfectly brewed cup of tea is the perfect end to a hectic day.
If you want to read further about brewing tea then read "The Experts Guide to Brewing Tea".
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is not intended to replace the diagnosis, treatment, consultation and services of a qualified Medical Practitioner. All information presented is in summary form and intended only for informational purposes. Always seek immediate medical attention for any illness you may have and never disregard the advice from qualified Medical Practitioners as something you have read on this site (or related sites) could be misinterpreted.
