Brewing
Instructions
To
the Editor: In her essay ''Holding the Bag in Italy'' (Sept.
15), Madeline Drexler quotes Rory Bruce, the manager of Babington's
tearoom, who said: ''A lot of English people don't understand
tea anymore. They use a tea bag and it's disgusting.''
Brewing tea can
be complex or simple. In China, it has been taken to the level
of an art form, and, in Japan, it is an expression of Zen
Buddhism. When you brew a pot of tea, you share in a daily
ritual for millions of people all over the world. Savor the
moment, whether preparing a pot of your morning brew, a cup
of green at your desk in the afternoon, or a carefully prepared
rare tea to be enjoyed with friends. Tea reflects the present--
your preferences, tastes, and mood. Be creative. You are the
expert. It’s your cup of tea.
Please
remember the quality of any cup of tea is closely linked with
water quality. No matter how skillful the preparation or spectacular
the tea, bad water will make a bad cup of tea.
Simple
Guidelines for Brewing Tea:
Muggatea Cup-Preheat
with hot water. The cup with its built-in strainer will prevent
leaves from entering the spout.
LEAVES
- To allow flavor to develop fully, brew tea loose,
not in a tea ball or infuser. Different teas have different
weights. With lighter weight teas, be sure to add enough leaf.
Use about four grams of tea per eight ounces of water.
WATER
- Start with good-tasting water. Tap water contains
chemicals that affect the taste of the tea. Try different
spring waters, or filtered tap water. Don’t re-boil
water as much of the oxygen will disappear, resulting in a
flat brew. Do not use boiling water when brewing white or
green tea. Over-heated water will cook the leaves and destroy
their flavor.
TASTE
- Until familiar with a particular tea, steep for a minute
or two, then try a sip. Pay attention to taste rather than
color. When the tea tastes right to you, drink. Most of our
teas are meant to be infused several times. Add additional
hot water as needed. Increase steeping time for subsequent
infusions. EXPERIMENT -- Feel free to experiment with water
temperature, brewing time and proportion of tea to water.
There is no right or wrong way to make tea. Let your palate
be the guide.
ENJOY
- A cup of tea should engage the senses. Slow down. Be part
of the moment. Observe the beautiful colors and unfolding
shapes of the leaves as they steep; appearance is very much
a part of the experience. Notice the tea’s unique aroma
as it rises from your steaming cup. Taste. There are many
flavors swirling in each cup. Try to catch each note. But
most important, enjoy the tea!
STORAGE
- All tea has a limited shelf life. Proper storage is necessary
to prolong freshness. Store tea in opaque containers to avoid
contact with light. Use a container with a tight-sealing lid.
Click
here for Tea Notes
See
our Tea Vocabulary Page |
