We often start and end our day enjoying tea. There are also times in between, maybe at work where we indulge in a refreshing blend. Think for a moment. Do you ever feel like you are compromising your love for tea by sipping brews that are not up to the mark? Maybe it’s not just the quality of the tea leaves, but the way the tea has been prepared. Yes, you’re right, we mean water. After all, tea is 99% water. If you follow our instructions, by the end of this post you will be happy in the knowledge that your next cup of tea will taste heavenly.
If you use hard water straight from the tap. Stop! The excess minerals such as calcium, chlorine, and magnesium will take away the flavour of the tea. The chemical reaction of the minerals in the water with the tea antioxidants may also reduce the nutritional value of the tea leaves. Instead, bottled spring water is the best to use. If you’re not able to use spring water then we suggest that you settle for filtered water.
While we have discussed the type of water to be used, there is another crucial element that could make or break the perfect cuppa. Can you guess? The length of brewing time is a major factor. Black and Oolong teas should be brewed for 2-4 minutes, while green and white should be brewed for only 1-3 minutes. It’s worth noting that if you want your tea a little stronger, just pour it back and brew it for longer. On the other hand, if it’s too strong, simply add more water. It will take a little time to get it just right.
Did you know that how long you wait before you sip the tea after it’s poured can also affect the taste of the tea, but we’ll leave that for another post. Until then try experimenting with some of the gourmet teas. Click here to browse our range of black, white, green and Oolong teas.
