Complete Tea Brewing Guide
Ever wondered how to brew all different types of tea and thought a handy guide would be super helpful? Well, fear not! Here is a comprehensive guide which tells you what are the overarching guidelines and the best way for you to brew all the different types of tea. We will tell you all about the best water temperature, steeping time and fun additions that you can add to have a delightful tea experience. The teas that are included in this guide are
- Darjeeling Black Tea (1st and 2nd flush)
- Green Tea
- Oolong Tea
- English Breakfast
- Masala Chai
- Assam Tea
1. Darjeeling black tea (1st flush)
Darjeeling Tea is extremely prized and coveted all over the world. It has an amazingly bright aroma, delicate taste and lingering aftertaste and it is the most expensive tea, making this Darjeeling Black Tea exquisite. This tea is characterized by its beautiful sweetness and crisp quality. It is of the most sought after spring teas with its unique fruity, floral and crunchy taste.
How to prepare - pour hot water (based on the recommended temperature) over tea leaves, preferably in a teapot and steep for 2-4 minutes. Use 2.5gm loose leaf for 8oz water.
Water temperature - 185 - 194F
Steeping time - 2-4 mins
Things you can add - you can add honey
Things to avoid - do not add milk
2. Darjeeling black tea (2nd flush)
The summer flush or second flush tea is rich, bull-bodied, with intense color and warmth. It has a muscatel, and fruity flavor. Again, an exquisite black tea which needs to be brewed with care.
How to prepare - pour hot water (based on the recommended temperature) over tea leaves, preferably in a teapot and steep for 3-5 minutes. Use 2.5gm loose leaf for 8oz water.
Water temperature - 212F
Steeping time - 3-5 mins
Things you can add - you can add honey
Things to avoid - do not add milk
3. Masala Chai
Masala chai is a tea blend that is famous all over the world. Originating from India where the people gave milk tea their own spice filled twist, masala tea is a delicious combination of strong black tea, milk and a mixture of quintessential Indian spices. This tea is usually prepared with milk and spices along with sugar and you are bound to find people in groups sharing their evening tea accompanied with laughter, discussions and of course, biscuits. The main spices used often are ginger, cardamom and cloves and is commonly known as masala chai. Many Indians will tell you how ‘chai’ is an emotion and this shows how deeply ingrained tea is in the Indian culture.
How to prepare - Bring 8oz water, 4oz milk and your spice mix which includes ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves (crushed), to a boil. Add in 2.5gm loose leaf tea and let it steep for 5 minutes. Strain out the tan colored liquid.
Water temperature - 212F
Steeping time - 3-5 mins
Things you can add - Milk and cream, cinnamon, other spices
Things to avoid - lemon/citrus
4. Green Tea
Green tea is a beverage that gained popularity as a weight loss or health drink and is now religiously consumed by many as a part of their morning or exercise routine. Green tea is much lighter in comparison to black tea and has a light greenish- yellow color in the cup. This tea has a low caffeine content. The tea leaves undergo a slightly different process than what it takes to make black tea. To make green tea leaves, the leaves are plucked, withered and rolled but the difference is that these leaves are not oxidized thus preserving the green color and fresh taste of the leaves. The oxidation process is halted by applying heat to the leaves in the form of either boiling or pan-firing.
How to prepare - pour hot water (based on the recommended temperature) over tea leaves, preferably in a teapot and steep for 1-3 minutes. Use 2.5gm loose leaf for 8oz water.
Water temperature - 160-180F
Steeping time - 1-3 mins
Things you can add - you can add honey
Things to avoid - do not add milk
5. Oolong tea
Oolong tea is a little less common than its black or green counterparts however, is fascinatingly right in between the two. Oolong tea is oxidized somewhere between 15-80% and hence falls right in between green tea and black tea. This level of oxidation makes sure that oolong tea is more complex and richer than green tea but not as robust as black tea. To make oolong tea, the same five-step process as is used while making black tea is followed; however, it is oxidized less which leads to its unique flavor.
How to prepare - pour hot water (based on the recommended temperature) over tea leaves, preferably in a teapot and steep for 1-3 minutes. Use 2.5gm loose leaf for 8oz water.
Water temperature - 185-203F
Steeping time - 1-3 mins
6. English breakfast tea
The English breakfast tea is a classic staple in many households around the world and is a match made in heaven with a hearty English breakfast. This blended black tea is robust, rich and goes beautifully well with some sugar and milk. The English breakfast is the most well known tea blend out of the breakfast tea family which also includes the Irish Breakfast Tea and the Scottish Breakfast Tea. Our blend is a unique infusion of Nilgiri and Assam orthodox tea and hence, this tea isn’t just perfect to start your day with, it is also great to help you get through your busy work from home schedule!
How to prepare - pour hot water (based on the recommended temperature) over tea leaves, preferably in a teapot and steep for 3-4 minutes. Use 2.5gm loose leaf for 8oz water.
Water temperature - 212F
Steeping time - 3-5 mins
Things you can add - you can add honey, sugar, cream and milk
Hope this handy guide helps you when you are in a pinch and need to know the correct temperature and steeping time for a perfect cuppa!
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