Hi, lets venture into the topic, how to brew loose leaf tea shall we!
Like tea making (manufacturing process from green leaf to made tea), tea brewing or steeping is also a chemistry. With good teas and proper brewing /steeping technique you get an awesome cup of tea, otherwise you will end up with an awful cup of tea. So without delay, lets learn on how to brew tea.
The First section will be on Black Tea Brewing (example of a good loose leaf tea taken here is our Golden Tips Tea:
Brew Your Cup of Black Tea
- Boil Water: Start by bringing fresh, cold water to a rolling boil. Use a kettle or a pot to heat the water. Black tea is best brewed with water at or just below the boiling point, typically around 200-212°F (93-100°C).
Picture: Boiling Water in a Pot
- Preheat Teapot or Teacup: Pour a small amount of hot water into your teapot or teacup to preheat it. Swirl the water around and then discard it. This helps maintain the tea's temperature during brewing.
- Measure Tea Leaves: Use a teaspoon to measure the desired amount of black tea leaves. A general guideline is to use 1 teaspoon of tea leaves per 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of water. Adjust the amount to your taste preference.
Picture: 1 Tablespoon Golden Tips Tea
- Add Tea Leaves: Place the measured tea leaves into a tea infuser, tea bag, or directly into the teapot or teacup.
Picture: Loose Leaf Tea added on a pot
- Pour Hot Water: Pour the freshly boiled water over the tea leaves. Ensure that the tea leaves are fully submerged. Use the amount of water corresponding to the number of cups you want to brew.
Picture: Water added and tea pot lid closed
- Steep Time: Allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. The steeping time can vary depending on the type of black tea and your personal taste. Longer steeping times generally result in stronger, more robust flavors.
Picture: Counterclockwise Liquor of Golden Tips Tea poured in 1.5, 2,5 and 3.5 Minutes
- Remove Tea Leaves: After the desired steeping time, remove the tea leaves or tea bag to prevent over-brewing, which can lead to a bitter taste.
- Optional Additions: If desired, add sweetener (such as sugar or honey), milk, or a squeeze of lemon to taste. Be mindful not to overwhelm the tea's natural flavors, especially when trying a new tea.
Enjoy: Your black tea is now ready to enjoy. Sip it slowly and savor the unique flavors and aromas.
The Second section will be on Green Tea Brewing:
Brew Your Cup of Green Tea
- Boil Water: Begin by bringing fresh, cold water to a gentle boil. For the best results, use water heated to about 175-185°F (80-85°C).
- Preheat Teapot or Teacup: Pour a small amount of hot water into your teapot or teacup to preheat it. Discard the water after a few seconds.
- Measure Tea Leaves: Use a teaspoon to measure the desired amount of green tea leaves. Typically, 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of water is a good guideline. Adjust to your taste preference.
- Add Tea Leaves: Place the measured green tea leaves into your teapot, tea infuser, or directly into your teacup.
- Pour Hot Water: Gently pour the hot water over the green tea leaves, ensuring they're fully immersed. Use the appropriate amount of water for the number of cups you want to brew.
- Steep Time: Allow the tea to steep for about 1-3 minutes. Be mindful of the steeping time, as longer steeping can result in a bitter taste.
- Serve the tea and enjoy. Do not keep the remaining tea on the pot.
You can also learn more about Steeping Green Tea Properly by reading this blog.
The third section will be on Green Tea Brewing:
Brew Your Cup of White Tea
- Boil Water: Start by bringing fresh, cold water to a gentle boil. For optimal results, use water heated to about 175-185°F (80-85°C).
- Preheat Teapot or Teacup: Pour a small amount of hot water into your teapot or teacup to preheat it. Discard the water after a few seconds.
- Measure Tea Leaves: Employ a teaspoon to measure your desired quantity of white tea leaves. Typically, 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of water is a good guideline. Adjust according to your taste preference.
- Add Tea Leaves: Place the measured white tea leaves into your teapot, tea infuser, or directly into your teacup.
- Pour Hot Water: Gently pour the hot water over the white tea leaves, ensuring they are fully submerged. Employ the appropriate water quantity based on the number of cups you intend to brew.
- Steep Mindfully: Allow the tea to steep for approximately 2 to 5 minutes. Be attentive to the steeping time to achieve the desired flavor without bitterness.
- Serve the tea and enjoy. Do not keep the remaining tea on the pot.
Like cold brewed White Tea- Check out this blog.