The way you prepare loose leaf tea can make the difference between an amazing tea experience and a lackluster one. Tea brewing is very easy to learn once you know a few general rules . So, here's our guide on everything you need to know to make the perfect cup of tea.
The rule of the three Ts
First, remember this simple rule before making loose tea: Tea type , Water temperature , and Steeping time . Different types of tea have different temperatures and ideal steeping times to achieve the best flavor. For this reason, take a minute to consider the three teas before making your tea.
Tea type: What type of tea do you want to make? Green tea leaves, for example, are more delicate and fresh than black tea leaves, so they can be steeped at a lower temperature and don't need to be steeped for as long. Herbal teas, on the other hand, don't contain the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea plant, so they can steep much longer than tea without becoming astringent or bitter.
Water Temperature: Depending on the type of tea you're making, you'll need to use different water temperatures. The best way to ensure the right temperature is to use a temperature-controlled electric kettle or a tea thermometer . If you don't have one handy, a full boil occurs when the water reaches 100°C (212°F), and when bubbles begin to appear, it's 85°C (185°F). You can also bring the water to a boil and let it cool for 1 to 3 minutes before adding the tea leaves.
Steeping Time: If you steep the tea for too short a time, it may seem tasteless or watery. If you steep the tea for too long, you risk making it bitter and astringent. For this reason, it's important to monitor the steeping time.
Type of tea
Temperature
Time
White tea
75 to 85 ºC
2 to 3 minutes
Green tea
75 to 90 ºC
2 to 3 minutes
Oolong tea
80 to 90 ºC
3 to 6 minutes
Black tea
90 to 100 ºC
3 to 5 minutes
Red tea
85 to 95 ºC
3 to 5 minutes
Infusions
100 ºC
5 to 10 minutes
Remember that these recommendations are general. It's best to ask at your local tea shop or follow the labeling recommendations for each tea.
Heating water to prepare loose tea
You've already chosen the type of tea you're going to make and know the temperature and steeping time. Now we'll give you some tips on the best methods for heating the water:
- Kettle: The best thing about this accessory is that you just need to plug it in and it automatically shuts off when the water reaches a boil, in just a couple of minutes. Some kettles even have temperature control so you can adjust the exact temperature based on the type of tea you choose.
- Small pot or saucepan: If you don't have a kettle, no problem. Just boil water in a small saucepan to make your cup of tea.
- Don't use a microwave: Although it's a very quick way to heat water, it's not recommended. A microwave doesn't heat water evenly, and different microwaves have different heat settings, so there's no consistent setting for boiling water. Even if bubbles appear after a minute or so, it doesn't mean the water has fully boiled. And since there's no way to measure the boiling point in a microwave, it's also easy to overheat the water.
Add extras to the tea
Milk, sugar, lemon. Did you know that tea wasn't originally served with any of these popular additions today? Drinking tea with milk and sugar was popularized by the British and later the Americans in the 18th century, when sugar imports from the Caribbean islands skyrocketed.
Lemon was another popular addition among the English at afternoon tea. Guests were offered a choice of milk or lemon slices, never both at the same time, as the lemon can cause the milk to curdle.
Owning these accessories was a luxury at this time, as they were expensive, so they became a sign of wealth and status. Furthermore, imported tea at the time was of low quality, so the additives helped flavor it and mask its taste.
Nowadays, it's possible to find quality tea in specialty stores, so you can drink tea the way it was done in the past and is still done in producing countries. For this reason, we recommend drinking loose tea without additives , just as you would a good wine. This way, you'll be able to better appreciate the delicate and subtle flavors of authentic tea.
Reinfusing loose tea
High-quality loose tea , unlike tea bags, can be re-infused. This way, you'll get more out of your tea by making more cups with the same tea leaves. If you'd like to know how to do it properly, you can read our article on Re-infusing Tea .
This short guide is valid for most loose teas , but there are other teas or preparations that require different steps. You'll find other useful guides on our blog:
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