Let's talk about Tea...
Making your pot of Tea you will need the following.
1. A clean kettle (for boiling water)
2. A teapot (for steeping leaves)
3. Water (good tasting)
4. Loose leaf tea (measured accordingly)
5. Tea cups (I suggest more than one for sharing)
Let's begin,
Wash your hands then wash your kettle removing old water mineral deposits usually the brown chalky substance left around and under the opening. This creates funny tasting water. If your water taste funny your tea will also taste funny it may be a good idea to use bottled spring or filtered water opposed to tap water. Fill the clean kettle with your desired water, now ready for heating. Place on heat.
Next rinse your teapot and cups out with hot water. Hot enough to warm them; I call this arousal, a preparing.
Using a teaspoon, evenly measure your tea leaves. 1 teaspoon per 6-8oz liquor and place inside strainer or filter, resting in teapot.
Now your water is at suggested temperature, carefully pour onto leaves filling the teapot. Already you will see the leaves react, unfurling stretching out. Noticing different shapes, colors, textures and aromas (expressing without words) depending on the tea you decided to use. Then cover with Lid.
Last, patiently allow the recommended time to pass (Make conversation) then remove the Fusion of Tea leaves, setting aside. Give a short quick stir blending the flavors and strength and pour liquor into each individual cup.
If you like Sweetener, Milk. Lemon or iced this is the time to dress it up. (For a stronger brew increase the amount of tea not the amount of steep time. Ice tea, double the amounts of tea leaves and pour steeped tea over ice).
Enjoy.
Suggested temperatures:
160°F - 195°F Whites, Greens, Matè (just before boil)
180°F - 190°F Herbals, Oolong, Pu-erh (bubbles are obvious)
200°F -212°F Black (full boil is evident)
Suggested steep times
White: 4 minutes
Green: 2.5 - 4 minutes
Oolong: 2 - 4 minutes
Black: up to 5 minutes
Pu-erh: 2 - 4 minutes
Steeping tea is always a personal preference, a matter of time, temperature, and the amount of tea not to forget your desired taste.
Things to remember the hotter the water, the shorter the steep. if you desire a lighter brew go with cooler water.
Be sure to experiment between the limits.
