How to properly brew tea

Delicious, aromatic tea is for most of us a brew without which we cannot imagine a successful day. We may differ on the subject of our favorite kind, argue about whether the drink tastes better in a mug or a cup, and have our own preferences when it comes to additives, but we usually agree on one aspect - we know that brewing tea must follow a few rules, because only then does its flavor and aroma gain the right depth. We also understand that although these rules are not very complicated, they can be a mystery to the novice connoisseur. So how is green tea brewing done correctly, and how do you get down to preparing the black variety? Do you need a special tea brewing set for this, and what should you pay special attention to during the whole process? You will find the answers below.

1. quality and quantity of the dry

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the quality of the dried tea easily translates into the quality of the finished brew. So if you want to savor the taste of the perfect black, white, green or oolong tea, choose the highest quality products from reliable sources, such as Czas na Herbatê stores. Also follow the recommendations for the amount of dried tea poured into a cup or mug, so your tea will not be too strong or too weak. A scale can be a useful accessory here to help you measure the correct weight of dried tea. Using teaspoons as a converter can sometimes be misleading, as the same spoon will hold a different amount of whole leaves and a different amount of more crushed leaves.

2. water temperature

The temperature of the water is the second most important factor affecting the taste and aroma of the finished beverage. It is assumed that in the case of black tea The water should be almost boiling, that is, at 95-98 degrees Celsius. Dried red tea, such as. Pu Erh Malacca Pour water at a temperature of 90 degrees, and yellow - 80 degrees. Green tea is more delicate, so it should be poured with cooler water - the optimal heat is between 70 and 80 degrees Celsius. Brewing white tea is carried out under similar conditions as the green one, since it too is one of the extremely sensitive and delicate varieties. It is worth noting here, however, that tea leaves should always be poured with boiled water, and not just heated to 70 or 80 degrees. When preparing green or yellow tea, it is therefore necessary to bring the liquid to a boil and then cool it down - by waiting a few minutes or pouring it into a cold container.

3. vessel temperature

Warming up a mug or cup before pouring dried tea into it and pouring in water is an activity that many people skip. However, it is worth spending a few moments on this step, as it will make the tea taste much better. Why does this happen? Well, a cold vessel absorbs heat, so even when the water in the kettle is at the optimum temperature, after contact with the walls of the mug or cup it loses a few degrees and is cooler than it should be. Thus, brewing does not proceed as planned and the brew loses a lot of its flavor and valuable properties.

4. tea brewing time

There are several different theories on how long to brew specific varieties of tea. The basic rule of thumb is that black and green tea should be steeped for 2-3 minutes and white tea for 5 to 7 minutes. Steeping red tea, on the other hand, should take a maximum of 3 minutes, and for Rooibos green steaming can take a little longer, up to 5 minutes. What is the situation in practice? According to many experts, sticking to these rules is a good move, but even better is to adjust the brewing time to the type of leaves and individual preferences. It is advisable to brew the fine dried and tea dust for a shorter time, and the large leaves a little longer, as they need time to "open up" and give off their full aroma. Similar time flexibility can be applied if you need a tea with specific properties. If you want black tea to stimulate you then brew it for two minutes, but when you want it to relax you - extend the time by two or three times. If you are reaching for green tea purely for flavor, steep the dry only for a while, but if you are choosing it for health reasons then let the infusion take much longer to gain strength. It will then become more bitter, but the concentration of valuable polyphenols will be definitely higher.

5. time for add-ons

Tea purists believe that the brew tastes best in its purest form and no additives are needed in it. However, most of us like to spice up our drink with a little sugar from time to time, syrup, honey or lemons. If you belong to the latter group, you must remember to leave any additives for last and combine them with the tea only after brewing. Why? Let's take one of our favorite additives, lemon, as an example. When you add it during brewing, the citric acid will react with the leaves, causing the release of aluminum citrate, which is harmful to the body. By adding lemon after the dried leaves have already been removed, there is no such risk, so you can combine the two ingredients and enjoy the taste of your favorite brew without worry.

6. tea making accessories

An interesting dilemma facing novice lovers of the golden brew is the question: to buy a modern tea brewing device or a special set for brewing green tea, or to do without such accessories. The truth is that it all depends on individual preferences. A beautiful set will certainly make the brewing ceremony more pleasant and a little easier, but you can also successfully use your own equipment: your favorite cup, teaspoon and classic teapot.
In some cultures, the tea ceremony has a centuries-old tradition and any deviation from the rules handed down from generation to generation is treated as sacrilege. In our case, such rigor is not necessary, but by keeping an eye on the temperature of the water, the amount of dried tea and the brewing time, you can bring out the best in your tea. With time, every lover of aromatic brew can afford to experiment and search for their own ideal, but at the beginning it is worth relying on the recommendations of experts, as well as on the instructions contained on the packages of dried tea. They will certainly steer you in the right direction and you will be delighted with the taste of your beloved drink.