Steeping Tea

steeping tea part 1 distinctly tea inc

Tea has nurtured societies since 1500 BC. As well as provid- ed good health and spirits. Tea can relax and energize you. Tea can bring people together, or be enjoyed alone. Many of the world’s cultures have developed a ceremony surrounding the preparation and enjoyment of tea. From the careful and precise Japanese tea ceremony, to cracking open a can of cold Iced Tea in North America, to passing around a gourd of Yerba Mate in Paraguay; tea connects us to our global history and community.

As much as consuming tea is important in millions of peoples’ daily lives, the preparation of tea is equally as essential; something we often forget in our fast paced lives. There are 4 main elements that affect the outcome of a cup of tea, 5 if we add the most important element –CONSISTENCY: The more accurately we make our tea the more we can tailor it to the precise taste we enjoy …cup after cup.

Water Type

Depending on the condition of your tap water, your cup of tea may be adversely affected. Hard water will give the tea a harsher taste and often leaves a film in your cup. Chlorinated water can often disguise the subtleties of the tea flavour. For the best cup of tea, use reverse osmosis filtered water. Distilled water leaves a flat taste and is not recommended for tea.

Water Temperature

Water temperature significantly affects tea strength and also how quickly the tea will become bit- ter from the tannin in the tea. For black, Rooibos, fruit and most herbal teas boiling water may be used. Never use boiling water when making green, white, oolong or Yerba Mate as it may make the tea bitter! Please refer to our packaging bags for recommended tea temps and times.

Steeping Time

Tea is very sensitive to the time in the water and releases it’s flavour over time. The hotter the water and longer the tea is immersed, the stronger it becomes. Most herbals may be steeped for 10 minutes or longer. Black tea does best at 3 –5 minutes, White at 5—7 minutes, Chinese green at 2 -3 minutes and Japanese greens at 1—2 minutes maximum.

Amount of Tea

How much tea we put in the cup is as important as the other elements. Accurate measuring for each cup ensures CONSISTENCY cup after cup. If you desire a weak cup use less tea and steep normal to bring out more tea benefits. Use more tea for a stronger cup rather than steep longer. 2.5 grams per 8 oz. cup is the standard measure for loose tea. (Approx. 1 teaspoon).

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