Brew Loose Leaf Tea
Using loose leaf tea creates a much more delicious and flavorful tea than pre-packaged tea bags. Drinking a cup of your favorite brewed loose leaf tea is an incredibly relaxing experience. Try a cup of loose leaf tea and you will see the difference.
Steps
- Buy Loose Leaf Tea from a trusted tea company.
- Follow the recommended measurements on the package of tea. Typically this is one teaspoon per cup of tea you wish to brew.
- Place the recommended measurements in a teapot that has a strainer in the center. Alternatively, you can use a tea infuser, as it provides a hassle free brewing experience. If you cannot find a teapot with strainer or an infuser, you can place the leaves in a teapot, and strain after brewing.
- Boil filtered or fresh water. Do not use hard water as it will alter the taste.
- If using white tea or green tea bring to an almost boiling point (when the water starts to bubble) without actually seeing the roaring boil.
- If using black or herbal tea, bring water to a roaring boil.
- Follow recommended steep times (you may vary the actual steeping time as per your taste):
- Steep black tea between 3-4 minutes.
- Steep green tea for 2-3 minutes.
- Steep white tea for 4-5 minutes.
- Steep herbal tea for up to 10 minutes or as directed on the tea package.
- Steep tea and then pour into your favorite cup.
- Sweeten your tea if needed. Add a few drops of lemon and some honey for an excellent green tea
- Rather than using plain granulated sugar, get a great fruit preserve from your local specialty store that has chunks of fruit in it. Rose petals and walnut preserves are highly recommended. Do not over-sweeten.
- White tea typically does not require sweetener.
- Sweeten Rooibos tea is already pretty sweet, and as such, it should not require a significant amount of sweetener.
- Store your tea in a tightly closed container in a dark and cool cabinet. A pantry is ideal.
Tips
- Do not use your grandmother's hand me down mugs. The experience of tea is heightened when you use a cup that excites you.
Warnings
- Do not store tea in a spot with direct light.
- Do not over-steep black and green tea. The flavor becomes too astringent and bitter to overcome.
- Do not use hard water.
- Do not store tea in a glass or see-through plastic container.
Things You'll Need
- Fine quality loose leaf tea
- filtered or fresh water
- kettle to boil
- teapot to steep tea. One with a built in filter is best.
- a fun cup to drink from.
Related Articles
- Brew Tea by Decoction
- Make a Good Cup of Tea
- Brew Green Tea
- Brew White Tea
- Make a Western Honey and Peach Tea Sweetener
