How to make tea

Video: How to Make Tea the British Way - Anglophenia Ep 31

Content

Part 2 of 4: Heat the water
Part 3 of 4: Brew the tea
Part 4 of 4: Enjoy your tea
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Black tea is aromatic and goes well with milk and sweeteners. Lapsang Souchong black tea is distinguished by peculiar notes of smoke. If you want tea with a strong malt flavor, Assam is the right choice for you. If you are going to drink tea with milk or sugar, consider purchasing a variety for breakfast or everyday use.

Look for flavored black teas such as Earl Gray, Lady Gray, or masala that are flavored with flowers, citrus, or spices.

2 Green tea has a lighter and less intense aroma. Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea and has a more subtle aroma. If you prefer tea without milk and sugar, try green tea for a better taste of its delicate flavor.

If you like green tea, learn how to make matcha tea. This stony green tea is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies.

Advice: if you like both black and green tea, try oolong tea. Like black tea, it undergoes oxidation, but it is less processed and retains some of the herbal aroma.

3 White tea has a mild aroma and contains a small amount of caffeine. White tea is the least oxidized and contains very little caffeine. Choose this if you like light tea without sugar or additional flavors.

Because white tea has minimal processing, it is usually sold in leaf form rather than in tea bags.

4 Look for herbal teas if you don't want to consume caffeine. If you are caffeine-free or just want to try a mild-tasting tea, choose a few different herbal teas. Classic hot or cold mint tea is refreshing, while chamomile tea is known to be soothing.

Another popular herbal tea is rooibos, often mixed with dried fruit or vanilla.

5 Choose tea in the form of leaves or tea bags. If you like high quality tea that can be brewed several times, consider purchasing loose leaf tea. It is sold as whole dried leaves that bloom and straighten out when brewed. Sliced and packaged tea is more convenient to brew. Unfortunately, each bag can only be brewed once.

If you are looking for high quality tea bags, look for pyramid shaped tea bags. This shape allows the tea leaves to bloom when brewed. If you can't find pyramid tea bags, get round tea bags that contain finely chopped tea.

Did you know? The most common are rectangular tea bags with a string and a tag. Despite its popularity, tea bags usually contain low quality highly ground tea and tea dust.

Part 2 of 4: Heat the water

1 Pour fresh water into the kettle. If you only need one cup of tea, pour about one and a half times more water into the teapot than you need to fill the cup. If you are going to use a teapot, fill the teapot with water. Note that some of the water will evaporate. To make the tea aromatic, it is best to use fresh water that has not yet been boiled.
- Use a whistling kettle that will beep when the water boils, or an electric kettle with a circuit breaker.
Option: if you don't have a kettle, pour water into a small saucepan. Place the pot over high heat and wait for the water to reach the desired temperature.
2 Heat the water according to the type of tea you are using. Delicate varieties can be damaged by hot water, so reheat it to the recommended temperature for the type of tea you are using. You can use a thermometer or watch the water to know when to turn off the heating. Heat water according to the type of tea:
- White tea: 75 ° C, or when the water is hot to the touch
- green tea: 75–85 ° C, or when steam starts to come out of the teapot spout;
- black tea: 95 ° C, or after boiling water has cooled for 1 minute.
3 Preheat water in the microwave in a mug if you do not have access to a kettle and stove. Although the water will heat up more evenly on the stove in a kettle or saucepan, you can also fill a microwave-safe mug about 3/4 full of water and place a wooden skewer or ice cream stick in it. Heat the water in the microwave for one minute or until gas bubbles begin to emerge.
- A wooden stick will prevent the water from overheating, which could lead to an explosion.
4 Pour some water into a teapot or cup to warm it up. If you immediately pour water into a cold teapot or teacup, the temperature of the water will drop dramatically and the tea will not brew properly. To preheat the container, fill the teapot or cup about 1/4 to 1/2 full with hot water. Wait about 30 seconds, then pour out the water.
- If you are in a hurry, you can skip this step, but the tea will be hotter and more aromatic if you still preheat the teapot or cup.

Part 3 of 4: Brew the tea

1 Place tea leaves or tea bags in a teapot or cup. If you are using tea bags, put as many tea bags in the teapot as there are cups you want to drink, or one tea bag per cup. If you have loose leaf tea, use 1 tablespoon (2 grams) of leaves for each cup.
- If you like stronger tea, add more leaves.
2 Pour water over the tea. Pour water gently into the teapot or cup. If you are brewing tea in a cup, fill it about 3/4 full so there is room for the milk. If you are brewing loose leaf tea in a teapot, add about 3/4 cup (180 ml) water to each cup. If you have tea bags, pour about 1 cup (240 milliliters) of water for each tea bag.
- If you are brewing loose leaf tea in a cup, consider placing the tea in a strainer before pouring water over it. After the tea is brewed, you can easily get the tea strainer with the leaves.
- Consider measuring the volume of water the first few times you use the teapot. After that, you will be able to determine the required amount of water by eye.
3 Brew tea according to its type. If you are using loose leaf tea, the leaves will loosen and straighten as you brew. If you are brewing tea in bags, the water will begin to change color (unless it is white tea). Brew tea for the following time:
- green tea: 1-3 minutes;
- white tea: 2-5 minutes;
- oolong tea: 2-3 minutes;
- black tea: 4 minutes;
- herbal tea: 3-6 minutes.
Did you know? The longer the tea is brewed, the more aromatic it will be. Taste the tea with a spoon to avoid steeping it too long, otherwise it may taste bitter.
4 Strain the brewed tea from the leaves or remove the tea bags. If you have used tea bags, remove them and wait for the water to drain off. If you are brewing loose leaf tea, take out a strainer or place a strainer on a cup and pour the tea through it. Save the leaves for next time or discard them.
- Used tea bags or leaves can be composted.

Part 4 of 4: Enjoy your tea

1 Drink hot tea without any additives to get a better taste. If you like tea on its own, don't add sugar, milk, or lemon to it. This is especially true if you are drinking white, green, or herbal teas, as milk can overpower their delicate aromas.
- Lower quality tea bags may benefit from added sugar or milk.
2 Add milk to black tea for a richer flavor. Usually milk is added only to black tea, for example at breakfast. As there are no hard and fast rules, you can pour milk before pouring the tea into the cup, or add it afterwards. Then stir the tea lightly and place the spoon on the saucer next to the cup.
- Do not add heavy cream or milk cream to your tea.The high fat content will give the tea a rich flavor and mask its aroma.
3 Add honey or sugar to your tea to sweeten it. If the taste of pure tea doesn't suit you, add some granulated sugar, honey, or whatever sweetener you like. For example, stevia, agave syrup, vanilla syrup, and the like can be used.
- Granular or brown sugar is usually added to masala tea.
- Honey is great for sweetening green or white tea.
4 Add lemon, ginger or mint to your tea for a bright scent. Try squeezing some fresh lemon juice into your tea, or adding a few sprigs of fresh mint. For a slightly spicy flavor, add a thin slice of fresh ginger.
- For an even richer flavor, add a few cinnamon sticks directly to the cup.
Advice: citrus juice can cause milk to clot, so do not add lemon juice to milk tea.
5 Chill the tea to make iced tea. If you prefer iced tea, place the brewed tea in the refrigerator and wait for it to cool properly. After that, pour ice into the glass and pour the tea. Drink your tea before the ice melts.
- Iced tea can be made from any type of tea. Try making iced tea with sweet black tea or herbal hibiscus tea.

Tips

Wash your teapot and kettle often to avoid the build-up of mineral deposits.
Store tea in an airtight container so it is less exposed to oxygen, light and moisture. Use a container that will not affect the aroma of the tea.
If you live high above sea level, the lower boiling point can make it difficult to brew teas that require high water temperatures, such as black tea. Most likely, in this case, the water will boil longer.