The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
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| How to Brew The Perfect Pot of Tea the First Time, Every Time |
| In today's helter-skelter, hurry up world, the timeless tradition of tea drinking draws us back to another era, a time of grace and charm, when communicating was done face to face in ones drawing room or parlor. |
| It was a time for people to stop their daily chores and relax for a bit, sit down and chat, sharing the important news of the day with one another while enjoying a spot of tea and a snack. Tea time was Twitter, E-mail, Facebook, and MySpace of old. Consider the fact that tea drinking goes back centuries, each with its own unique stamp on our history, making us who we are today-these whirl- wind creatures rushing relentlessly through each day, before falling exhausted into bed at night. Then, after only a few hours of downtime we start the whole process over again. So, while it's hardly something I can add to the instructions, take a little time to enjoy the process |
| of brewing tea. Slow down just enough to enjoy the nuances of preparation. And, although tea may seem a simple, ordinary task, the timelessness of it is far from it. |
| How to Brew Tea |
What you will need:
Fill the tea kettle with cold water, using one cup of water for every cup of tea, plus one cup to pre-warm the teapot. Heat water as follows: For Black Tea - bring water to a rolling boil. Be careful not to over boil the water. This depletes the water of necessary oxygen needed to release flavors while steeping. For Oolong Tea - stop just short of a rolling boil. For delicate White and Green Teas - these teas require less heat. Bring water to pre-boiling, when air bubbles are just beginning to form. Preheat the teapot with hot water from the tea kettle. Swirl around and then discard. For each cup of tea served, add one rounded teaspoon of loose tea (or one tea bag) to teapot. Pour boiling water into teapot directly over tea leaves, and steep. Below are some general guidelines for steeping times.* If using an infuser, remove after steeping, or use a strainer for the tea leaves. Steeping Times* Black tea - steep for approximately 3 - 5 minutes Green tea - steep for 1 to 3 minutes Oolong tea - steep for 3 to 7 minutes White tea - steep anywhere from 1 to 8 minutes Herbal teas - steep for 5 to 7 minutes *Steeping times listed above are general guidelines, especially for white teas. Ask your tea retailer for recommendations when purchasing teas. Your best bet is to experiment with steeping times, and adjust them to your own personal tastes. Some people like their tea stronger, others weaker, so your own palate is your best guide. Feel free to experiment with different teas and blends. Once you get the brewing techniques down pat, it's fun to try different types and flavors of tea. Many teas are good both hot and cold. You'll be surprised at how good they taste either way, so don't limit yourself to just one or the other. With so many different teas available, you could try a new one every day for a year without exhausting the offerings, so get out there and try something new. And whatever you choose, have fun with it. Enjoy. |
| For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: Make brewing tea a breeze with a few useful tools. Brewing tea is an easy task, but with a few choice tools and accessories, you can make it easier and even more enjoyable. How should tea be stored? Learn tea storage tips and information on how to keep your tea fresh, reserving quality and flavor. Nearly every home has one - does yours? Learn all about the beloved teapot. Nearly every home has a teapot - some that are used daily and well loved, and some that are purely decorative. Learn where and how the beloved teapot of today began its journey centuries ago. How can I tell if the tea I'm buying is fresh, quality tea at a fair price: Check out these handy tips for buying loose leaf tea before shopping online, by mail order, for from your local specialty tea shop. The history behind iced tea and recipe for the summertime classic - Sun Tea. Learn the history behind iced tea and how a spur of the moment decision led to its creation. And "go green" with the original recipe for the summertime classic - Sun Tea - made with solar power. How do I choose the right tea for me? Buying loose leaf tea for the first time can be confusing, but we've taken the work out of it for you. With lots of helpful tips and information, we've turned confusing into confident. Flavored Teas - Everyone's Favorite! Satisfy your favorite cravings with a healthy, low calorie cup of tea. Whether it's berries, citrus, spice, or even chocolate (how does chocolate with chocolate chips sound?) or caramel, your favorite flavor of tea is just waiting for you. Scented teas are a fragrant and refreshing treat for the taste buds. Having been perfected by the Chinese many centuries ago, these delicate, refreshing, and relaxing teas are not only tasty, but sport many health benefits as well. So, who is Earl Grey anyway? Earl Grey is probably the most recognizable of blended teas, but there are many other tasty blends that make the perfect beginning or end to your day. (Try Earl Grey Extra Fancy OP tea from Silver Leaf Tea-the distinctive flavor of Earl Grey comes from the small European citrus fruit, bergamot. A whole leaf black tea that's light, aromatic, w/beautifully balanced flavor. Good w/strong cheeses, meat, and fish). |
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An easy-to-use ingenuiTEA teapot, whose ingenious design has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine and HGTV.
| For a great selection of quality teas, gifts, and accessories, visit: The Tea Detective's Gift of Tea Store |
Receive A Guide To Tea, an 88-page book on the history and enjoyment of tea free with your first Adagio Teas order of $19 or more.