|
I've run into a lot of folks who don't like the flavor of tea, but I have no doubt that in many cases, they simply have never had the pleasure of trying tea that had been infused using the correct way. With every type of tea basically possessing its own brewing procedure, it's not difficult to comprehend how it comes to be that people might not know how to best brew their tea. And when specific mistakes are made, the resulting tea will taste terrible. Not to worry, though, since any kind of tea can be brewed with pretty much any procedure. There are just a couple of critical factors to look out for and I will indicate those below for a couple of the more popular teas. Why don't we start with the easiest one. Black tea does not typically present any difficulties for most folks. Basically, you pour boiling water over the leaves and allow them to steep for 2-3 minutes. The widespread Assam tea should be made employing this method, as well as the Chinese black teas, Ceylon teas and Nepalese teas. Darjeeling tea, though, is made using a different method. Because it is only somewhat oxidized, it should be made using colder water (80-90ºC or 180-194ºF), just like an oolong tea. Green tea is not quite as easy to brew well, given the great difference of different types and the sizable difference in preparation methods. The issues you need to take care to do right before anything else, are the steeping times and the water temperature. 80°C (176°F) is the best temperature for steeping almost all green teas. You should use a much colder 50°C–60°C (122°F–140°F) for the high quality Japanese tea gyokuro, however. The Japanese tea Houjicha, which is roasted, is one more exception. Perhaps the most difficult possible tea to brew incorrectly, it can simply be made using 100°C water. The suggestions written on the packaging will suggest a good point to start when it comes to steeping times. If you can't find any guidelines, try two minutes for most teas and a minute and a half for gyokuro. Ignore all that I just wrote, if you're talking about Matcha green tea powder; it is altogether different from other green teas. As the name would suggest, it's in powder form and as such, it calls for specific implements and a different and fairly complex method of preparation. Are you familiar with the Japanese tea ceremony? It features matcha tea and is a good illustration of how complex the brewing process is. I prefer not to ramble on for several thousand words, so I'll leave off getting into specifics on the way of preparation for this very high quality tea. Also a bit more difficult to brew well is white tea. It consists of new leaves, meaning they are a bit more delicate and thus necessitate a lower water temperature than any other type of tea. The two best varieties, White Hair Silver Needle and White Peony, are both best steeped at 75-80°C (167-176°F). I'd start with a steeping time of 2-3 minutes and adjust it as you like. Adding to the steeping time should make the tea stronger, while decreasing it will give you a less astringent cup. After the above-mentioned matcha, the toughest type of tea to make in the correct way is oolong. The traditional gongfu style of brewing requires a large number of quick infusions using a heap of leaves. Not to worry, however; you can prepare oolong teas with general methods and they should taste great. Just make sure that the water temperature is just a little under 100°C and you will be fine. No doubt everyone is thinking the guidelines I've detailed above are quite a bit watered-down. Of course, using the specific guidelines for each specific tea will result in the best cup. Should you not have the appropriate guidelines or implements, using my instructions will give you a tasty cup, no matter the kind of tea you are employing. I hope, this will embolden at least a few men and women who have formerly determined they can't stand tea, to give it a second chance. I am positive you'll be glad you did. For help on buying tea online, head here. You'll find a detailed review and comparison of popular online tea shops.
Related Articles -
green tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, brew tea, prepare tea,
|
