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How do you have your tea?
- Thread starter Andeavor
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Had it with lemonade once and it was rather nice.
Had it here...
http://www.commongroundcafe.com/
Interesting little place.
Ah, icing it with honey and lemon is pretty great. When I don't feel like having it straight up, I drink it with milk and honey (which is how I started out).
That sounds good as well. I like this Mate as well..
http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/mate-teas/p/mat-vana-herbal-tea
I usually have this in the morning with a touch of stevia extract but I like the Yerba Mate more. Both are pretty darn good.
Among other things, the water has to be boiling (not boiled) when it hits the tea leaves...
It must be made with proper tea leaves, not little packets of dust and crumbs.
Here is a chart showing the ideal brewing conditions for different types of tea:
Black, green, white, and Oolong tea (i.e. "tea" that actually contains tea leaves) should not be over-steeped, as it can make the taste bitter. Other "teas' (AKA "infusions") don't really have this problem.
I should also note that this chart inaccurately refers to Chai as its own tea. Chai is actually black tea (or sometimes other kinds) flavored with cinnamon and other spices.
Black, green, white, and Oolong tea (i.e. "tea" that actually contains tea leaves) should not be over-steeped, as it can make the taste bitter. Other "teas' (AKA "infusions") don't really have this problem.
I should also note that this chart inaccurately refers to Chai as its own tea. Chai is actually black tea (or sometimes other kinds) flavored with cinnamon and other spices.
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There are two methods that have stood the test of time -
Make a steep that is very concentrated and then that is what is added to hot/boiling water and the other is the more commonly seen direct steeping to strength for drinking.
As for whether water should be boiled or still boiling, I have learned (subjective stuff) that one boils the water first as boiling tea leaves may ruin the flavour of the tea. - Better to let it sit and steep off the heat.
Last - it also depends on the tea being used - coarseness, source (such as black teas of India verses some herb teas etc.), and age of the tea leaves.
As for me, very happy with tea bags and a kettle and even happier I don't have to drink that wretched "milk with a little tea" as I did in my youth.
Make a steep that is very concentrated and then that is what is added to hot/boiling water and the other is the more commonly seen direct steeping to strength for drinking.
As for whether water should be boiled or still boiling, I have learned (subjective stuff) that one boils the water first as boiling tea leaves may ruin the flavour of the tea. - Better to let it sit and steep off the heat.
Last - it also depends on the tea being used - coarseness, source (such as black teas of India verses some herb teas etc.), and age of the tea leaves.
As for me, very happy with tea bags and a kettle and even happier I don't have to drink that wretched "milk with a little tea" as I did in my youth.
The reason for using boiling vs. boiled water is the longer you heat/boil water, the more (dissolved) oxygen the water loses, which results in "flat-tasting" tea. (Always use fresh water, never reboil water, for the same reason.) Since black tea requires a higher temperature than green tea to fully release its flavor, most recommend pouring water that just began to boil over black tea and pouring water over green tea just prior it reaching the boiling point. Both black and green tea should be steeped in a covered container for anywhere from 3-10 minutes, the actual length depends on the type of tea, brand, etc. -- experiment, as too long and the tea will start to take on a bitter taste.
We agree. I perhaps referred to boiling leaves as a bad practice. Using water that just boiled is (for me) the way to go.
Kind of depends on how you like it. It's a personal thing. I like PG tips in a big mug with a dash of semi skimmed milk.
In fact I'm going to make one now!
In fact I'm going to make one now!
I once had a lady friend who made her tea in the microwave, the relationship did not last long!
I knew an older gentleman, and when his wife passed away, a friend visited to see how he was doing. She offered to make him a cup of tea and asked how he liked it. He replied, I have no idea my wife always made it for me. Even if she was out, she would leave him a flask!
Not surprisingly, in the circumstances.
Hm, yes. There were such creatures, gentlemen with a learned and exquisitely cultivated incompetence in domestic matters.
As an underaged, I once knew a retired Lieut-General who was unable to make a cup of tea; his wife had despatched him to the kitchen to put on the kettle and he returned with the immortal question "how do you put on the kettle?" When I later laid eyes on the kettle, I noticed that it had one large button, coloured red, which you pressed.
I drink a pot of tea every morning (black, and unsweetened) made with loose tea leaves infused for about five minutes in freshly boiled water. The tea leaves are in a strainer, which I remove after I pour the first cup.
I used to use Ceylon tea from a Sri Lankan company, but when that became unavailable locally I changed to a brand that is grown in the hills of Northern Thailand. I like to try other teas sometimes, but am a creature of habit for my regular morning brew.
The best tea I have made was years ago when I had an enamel teapot and didn't have an electric jug. I boiled the water in a saucepan on an old solid style hotplate, then turned it off. After pouring the water over the leaves in the teapot, I put it on the hob, which retained enough heat to boil the brew in the pot for a few seconds. It bought out the flavour quite nicely. That was years ago in NZ using Ceylon tea.
Billy tea made over a fire is similar. Bring the water to the boil in the billy. Add the tea leaves to the boiling water, then allow it to boil briefly before removing it from the fire to brew for about five minutes before serving.
Oh, and t** b***; a quick brew obscenity dreamed up by marketers after a way of adding value to tea dust……. No thanks.
I used to use Ceylon tea from a Sri Lankan company, but when that became unavailable locally I changed to a brand that is grown in the hills of Northern Thailand. I like to try other teas sometimes, but am a creature of habit for my regular morning brew.
The best tea I have made was years ago when I had an enamel teapot and didn't have an electric jug. I boiled the water in a saucepan on an old solid style hotplate, then turned it off. After pouring the water over the leaves in the teapot, I put it on the hob, which retained enough heat to boil the brew in the pot for a few seconds. It bought out the flavour quite nicely. That was years ago in NZ using Ceylon tea.
Billy tea made over a fire is similar. Bring the water to the boil in the billy. Add the tea leaves to the boiling water, then allow it to boil briefly before removing it from the fire to brew for about five minutes before serving.
Oh, and t** b***; a quick brew obscenity dreamed up by marketers after a way of adding value to tea dust……. No thanks.
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I guess the key word in the op is: proper. I don't know what that is but I like tea.
I use a Zojirushi water boiler/warmer on the counter for convenience. (I'm sold on Zojirushi products. I also have a rice cooker & soy milk machine by them.)
I open and add the desired amount of leaves and let it steep a few minutes. Depending on the tea I might toss the first steeping and drink the second.
I use a Zojirushi water boiler/warmer on the counter for convenience. (I'm sold on Zojirushi products. I also have a rice cooker & soy milk machine by them.)
I open and add the desired amount of leaves and let it steep a few minutes. Depending on the tea I might toss the first steeping and drink the second.
Lovely post.
I rather like proper old teapots myself; as with coffee, the vessels you use to prepare it do make a difference to the final taste.
Re tea- bags, while I don't much care for them, they are extraordinarily convenient, which is why they sell so well. Yes, I agree, another sad example of convenience triumphing over taste, and quality.
What is the difference in water boiled in a kettle and water boiled in a microwave? And for those of you who poopoo the latter, have you ever tried it for your tea?