Brewing Tea

 

Measure your tea- 1 teaspoon to 6-8oz of water. (if you want stronger tea use more now, don’t steep longer)

Some fluffier teas, with extra fruits, chamomile, petals, may require as much as 1 tablespoon.

If using a pot adjust amounts dependent on ounces pot holds.

Measure tea into an infuser or you can put directly into pot or cup (to strain later)

Heat the water. The heat of the water is dependent on the type of tea you are drinking .

Herbals and Pu-Erh 212º -Boiling water

Black 200º - First bubbles begin to rise OR let water boil and wait 30-60 seconds before pouring over leaves

Green & White :170-180 bubbles form on bottom of pot OR boil and wait 60-120 seconds

Steep your tea: Pour water over infuser or loose tea in cup or pot. Be sure and cover with water. Steep tea for time per tea type

Green & White 2-3 minutes

Black & Pu-Erh 3-5 minutes

Oolong: 4-7 minutes

Herbal/Fruit/Rooibus:5-7

Remove infuser, or wait for leaves to settle to bottom of cup or pot, or strain through strainer and serve. If you brew too long your tea will be bitter. Remember you can resteep tea, you do need to steep a bit longer for each reuse.

 

Brewing Chai

 

Masala Chai/Spiced tea can be brewed just as all black teas. Add cream and sweetener if need. Or for a traditional creamy cup of chai try one of these recipes.

1.Steep heaping teaspoon of chai in 3-4 oz boiled water for up to 5 minutes. Heat 3-4 oz of milk to a low boil. Stir hot milk and desired sweetener (honey is best)into already water steeped chai

Or

2.For an extra creamy cup, place heaping teaspoon of chai into strainer or directly into 8oz of milk, bring to a slow boil. Remove tea leaves and add sweetener

 

Cream or Sugar?

 

Cream and sugar, and lemon was not part of the original mix of tea, thousands of years ago. The English added cream and sugar to their cups in the 1600’s when they found tea for themselves. Today adding milk and a bit of honey is most natural for a great cup of tea. Many black teas become smoother with a bit of milk. A cup of Earl Grey does not seem complete without its cream and honey. Try your favorite tea with and with out for variety.

 

Cold Brewing

Single serve:

  1. Infuse 1-2 teaspoons of leaves in 12 oz of water

  2. Let bags steep 10+minutes.

  3. Enjoy, no ice needed.

Overnight Brew

  1. Add 4 TBSP tea to 1qt water

  2. Refrigerate greens, white,herbals for 2-6 hours and black and oolong for 6-10 hours

  3. Strain and serve

Iced Tea

 

Hot to Cold Brewing

Single serve

  1. Pour 8oz of boiling water over 2 Tbsp loose leaf tea in infuser.

  2. Steep 2-4 minutes

  3. Remove strainer and pour over ice

Gallon

  1. Pour 8oz of boiling water over 5-6 Tablespoons of tea

  2. Steep for 3-4 minutes

  3. Add cool water to equal 1 gallon.

  4. Serve over ice