How to Brew a Perfectly Delightful Cup of Tea
Today I’m sharing with you the Best Tasting Tea for Beginners (How to Steep Properly. Tea brewing is all about time and temperature!
Today I’m sharing with you tea brewing and How to Brew a Perfectly Delightful Cup of Tea. Tea is all about time, and temperature.
One of the things I love the most whether at home or when we are out is a great cup of freshly brewed whole-leaf tea!
Coffee has its place in the world and I did my share of drinking the black tasty beverage a long time ago. At that time, I had tea pretty much whenever I didn’t feel well, or on rare occasions, I felt like a cup of tea iced.
One day, that totally changed. I have my niece to thank for paving my way into the luxurious, ancient old, history-filled, rich, and healthy, wide world of tea, which we will be sure to chat more about on another day.
Since the day I learned more about the beauty of tea, I haven’t looked back!
Tea Brewing 101
Tea is all about time, and temperature.
Brewing tea correctly can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying the full flavors of tea. To create the perfect tea brew, it is important to respect the two key factors: time and temperature.
Properly monitoring these two elements will help ensure that tea leaves do not become over-extracted or burnt, resulting in a flavorless cup of tea.
How to Brew a Perfectly Delightful Cup of Tea
The first thing I learned was that not all teas are alike. Sounds simple you say.
Well, well, well, what I learned was that tea, for me at least, is like a fine wine.
When you delve into the tea world, you quickly learn that we should be paying lots of money for tea, since it takes a long time to harvest, dry, and roll.
5 Steps to steep tea
- Heat Water to the appropriate temperature for
the type of tea leaf you are steeping –
(see temperature/steep guide) - Measure tea leaves (1 tsp per 8 oz. of water)
- Pour water over the leaves
- Steep (see temperature chart/steep time)
- Remove tea leaves and Enjoy!
Types of tea
White tea
First, you have white tea. White teas have delicate buds and leaves, being the first bud to appear in Spring. White teas should be brewed at a low temperature for a short amount of time.
Green tea
Next, you have green teas, Typically green tea is hugely popular. Gree, yellow or light brown, the flavor ranges from grass like, to toasted and sweet. If brewed correctly, most green tea should be quite light in color and only mildly astringent.
Pu-er tea
Then there is Pu’er tea. My very favorite of caffeinated teas. Rich and robust.
Oolong, Black, Scented and herbal tea
Following Pu’er tea are Oolongs, Black teas, Scented teas, and Tisane or Herbals, as most know them by this name. I could go on and on about all of these, and one day soon I will surely indulge you.
For Now, Let’s start with an Oolong. How about Wood Dragon? Sounding interesting?
To shop teas : Click Here to Go to Saratoga Tea & Honey
Here is what Saratoga Tea and Honey Co. have to say about Wood-Dragon.
‘Made from the stems of the tea plant, this is a standout in the oolong category. It is lower in caffeine – due to the low volume of the leaf – but with a similarly warm, sweet maple sap flavor. It is one of the most popular teas in Taiwan, enjoyed in many restaurants and homes.’
The roasted flavor is a result of an extra firing after the twigs and stems have been hand-sorted away from the leaves. An accessible and enjoyable alternative to a more heavily caffeinated, dark-roast oolong, it’s satisfying on its own.
To learn more about my favorite honey click here.
Stay tuned for more about different teas and how to brew them!
-
Rambling from the Roost: Volume 23
The one where we escape to our favorite island, eat very well, and I share a few things you might have missed on the blog. Oh friend, pull up a chair. Pour yourself something cold — or hot, depending on where you live — because it’s time for another Rambling from the Roost. These little…
-
Easy Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites Recipe: Party Appetizer
Light, fresh, and elegant enough for company — easy enough for a Wednesday night. Grazing is my thing. A little of this, a little of that — a bite here, a nibble there. There is something about a beautiful little platter that just makes an ordinary evening feel special. Andrew and I do this often…
-
How to Create a Winning Kentucky Derby Tablescape
The first Saturday in May has always felt like a little holiday in our house — the kind you make yourself. It begins with my Kentucky Derby tablescape tablecloth going down before breakfast and ends with candles burning long after the race is over. That is Derby Day at The Roost, and around here, it…
-
Easy Trader Joes Seafood Blend Recipe
One skillet, big Mediterranean flavor, and cleanup that takes less time than setting the table. There is something I have been on a mission to find lately — recipes that are genuinely healthy AND genuinely delicious. Because let’s be honest, friend, that combination is not always as easy as it sounds. You find something healthy,…
-
How to Arrange Spring Flowers in a Vintage Vase
Every week, without fail, you’ll find me standing in the flower section at Trader Joe’s — probably blocking the aisle, definitely taking too long. I can’t help it. The moment I see what’s new — a bundle of garden roses, a bunch of ranunculus, something unexpected and gorgeous I’ve never tried before — I am…
-
DIY | Home Decor | Living Room
How to Style a Decorative Tray in 10 Minutes
If there is one decorating staple I reach for more than anything else in this house, it’s a tray. A simple, beautiful tray is honestly one of the most versatile accessories you can own — and I don’t say that lightly. It corrals. It anchors. It turns a random collection of favorite things into a…
I’m so glad you started your blog. I follow you on IG and am interested in learning more about tea. I only drink coffee, and tea sounds so lovely.
Hi Deb, I’m so happy you are here and are interested in learning more about tea. It’s my favorite beverage. Stay tuned for more. 🙂 Susan