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The Art of Making Tea

The Art of Making Tea
Having a warm cup of delicious tea is a luxury that is available for a very reasonable price.  I
like to have tea everyday around the same time. There is something about honoring tea
time that helps to defuse my stress and energize me for the rest of the day.  I tend to slow
down and have a cup of tea around 3:30 every day.


The tea pot:
I have a lovely tea pot that I was able to get on sale and had a coupon for at my local World
two years ago and it has provided me with so much joy that it was worth the small price I
paid.  However, if that is out of your budget, go to your local thrift store and look for a lovely
pot which you can pick up for a dollar or two or just steep a cup of tea 1 cup at a time.




The tea:
Tea bags can run from $5.50 for a box of 20 bags  or $5.49 for 3 oz of loose tea at our local
Kroger store.  You can find tea bags or loose tea at your local World or an international
store.  I was able to get a large container of Earl Gray tea for $10.00 at our local
international store last year and we still have a lot of tea left.  


The Art of Steeping:
Learning how to steep a cup of tea is very important because it can create a lovely, full
flavored, delicious cup of tea if correctly done or if the tea is over steeped it can produce a
bitter, harsh flavored tea.  This is especially true in the steeping of Earl Gray tea. The goal
of steeping is to infuse the water with all the flavors of your selected tea. It all starts when
heated water is poured over the tea bag, tea strainer or tea pot.  As everyone’s pallet is
different, it is important to experiment with different types of teas, bags or loose leaf tea and
the appropriate steeping times for each.


Steeping to Perfection:
Heartier teas (black, red, heb and oolong), are able to be steeped in water that has come to
a full boil without risking over-processing.  While white and green teas are more delicate and
require to be steeped in water that is just below the boiling point.


Heartier Teas:
Black tea (bagged or loose) can be steeped up to five minutes while Oolong tea bags may
steep up to 5 minutes but the loose tea can be processed up to 7 minutes according to the
experts.  Red and herb (bagged or loose) can be steeped for up to 7 minutes.


Delicate Teas:
White tea bags should only be steeped up to 1 minute, but in loose form they can be
steeped for up to 3 minutes.  Green tea bags are able to handle being steeped for up to 3
minutes and in loose form up to 4 minutes.


Loose Leaf Tea vs Tea Bags:
There is always an argument regarding which one is better.  If you listen to the experts and tea
enthusiasts, then the loose leaf version is superior.  They claim that steeping loose tea leaves
provide for better flavor/taste and aroma, while also extending further producing more cups of tea vs
the tea bag.  However, in the end personal preference always wins, so decide for yourself which one
to use.

Resources:


https://www.livestrong.com/article/480185-what-is-the-difference-between-brewing-tea-steeping-tea/.  

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