Celebrate National Hot Tea Month with a Perfect Cup of Tea
Did you know that January is National Hot Tea Month? It is, and it seems like that makes it the perfect time to get a few expert tips on brewing that perfect cup of tea. Who better to fill us in than The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s master tea blender, Dave DeCandia?
According to Dave, many consumers make simple mistakes while brewing that limits the robust flavors of tea blends. By following these tips, you’ll be sure to experience the layered flavors of tea blends.
- Water temperature: Never use boiling water to make tea. Boiling water will only burn the tea leaves and diminish the flavor. The ideal temperature is between 185 and 190 degrees. If you’ve let the kettle start to boil let the water sit for 30 seconds so the water cools slightly.
- Amount of tea: Use one tea bag per 1-2 cups of water or for loose tea use one teaspoon of tea leaves for every cup. Never reuse a tea bag – the flavor will have been used in the first cup.
- Steeping: Exactly how long you should steep your tea depends on the type of tea; however, most teas begin tasting bitter after seven minutes of steeping. Steep green tea for about three minutes, oolong and black teas for about five minutes and herbal teas for about seven minutes. Remove the tea bag immediately after use to avoid burning the leaves – this will make the tea taste bitter. Remember that tea bags take less time to brew than loose tea leaves.
- Strength: Some people like strong tea. My motto for strong tea is, “Add more tea, not time.” Steeping the tea for more time will only reduce the flavor, not increase the strength.
- Additions: When adding both lemon and sugar, add the sugar first. If the lemon is added first the citric acid will prevent the sugar from dissolving. Cream should not be added to tea as it interferes with the taste but personal preferences vary.
About Dave DeCandia: Dave has spent over a decade traveling the globe in search of high-quality ingredients to create The Coffee Bean’s popular tea blends. DeCandia is available for interviews to further discuss proper tea brewing and his top picks for winter tea blends.
