Brewing your best "cuppa"

Brewing is the most crucial step in your enjoyment of tea; known to many as steeping.

After you select your tea, there are five golden rules for preparing a delicious cup of hot tea. (based on black large-leaf tea).

Please see back of the pack for individual quantity, and brewing tips:

1. use a teapot with
   • an infuser, or
   • a strainer for best results
2. boil fresh, cold tap water; use filtered water if tap water is
   • heavily chlorinated
   • contains objectionable odours
3. add one teaspoon (2g) or a tea bag per cup to the teapot
   • use more for a stronger flavour
   • use less for a lighter flavour
4. pour heated or boiling water over the leaves; generally
   • use heated water for large, green or delicate leaves 
   • use boiling water for black and Pu-erh
5. time the brew by the clock for 1 to 3 mins and serve
   • shorter times give more nuanced flavours
   • longer times give stronger flavours

Experimenting

Try experimenting, using the guidance notes below as a starting point. 

Example 1:  If your green tea leaves taste bitter or unpalatable try lower temperatures and brewing times to improve the taste. If your green tea still tastes unpalatable try adding Honey or Hibiscus to the brew.

Refer to our Blog

TEArecipes Enhance green TEA taste

Example 2:  Black tea variations range between high-grade, large loose leaf (SFTGFOP 1) to fannings grade (CTC) fine cut or broken leaf grades. Normally, low-grade teas will brew faster than high-grade teas

Temperature

Boiling water is necessary to brew black and Pu-erh tea leaves.

However, boiling water will scorch and ruin the flavour of green, white, oolong and artisan teas. Here are several methods to cool the boiled water

• allow the boiled water to stand for 5 minutes before brewing
• pour boiled water into the teapot and drinking cups to preheat and reuse for brewing (best practice)
• add cold water and use a thermometer.

Variables

When a huge range of different types of dry tea leaves immerse in water and rehydrate, they will all transfer different concentrations of soluble compounds to the hot water.

While all teas share the same soluble compounds, their concentration varies, depending on the combination of leaf growing conditions due to altitude, topography, climate, soil conditions, temperature, sunshine, harvesting and processing; producing an immense variety of tea tastes. 

Welcome to our world!

White tea -  Pai Mu Tan

Temperature range   85°C - 95°C

Brewing time             60-120 sec

White tea - China - Jasmine Pearls

Temperature range   85°C - 95°C

Brewing time             60-120 sec

Green tea pan-fried - China - Dragonwell 

Temperature range    70°C - 85°C

Brewing time              30-90 secs

Black tea  - India - Darjeeling Castleton 2nd flush

Temperature range   90°C - 100°C

Brewing time             60-120 secs

As the leaves begin to rehydrate in the water and transfer those soluble compounds to the tea infusion, the taste, colour, body and aroma characteristics all transfer to the hot water until the equilibrium is reached.

However, if the first brew is served and the leaves are drained before equilibrium, the leaves can be brewed again and again in hot water.

This process will yield one, two or maybe three brews; in the instance of a quality white tea like Buddhas Tears (Jasmine Pearls) or a quality compressed Pu-erh tea brick, three or more multiple brews are possible.

Here is my favourite multiple brew method for a single serve. Try experimenting with quantities of tea, water and times, to find the recipe to suit your palate

• Slightly increase the amount of tea you use

• Add 70-80ml hot water for the first brew and serve after 30-60 secs  

• Add another 70-80ml hot water for the second brew and serve after 60-90 secs

• Add another 70-80ml hot water for the third brew and serve after 1-2 mins

Multiple brews will give you snapshot tastes; they accentuate nuances in the tea that may become muffled or lost, during longer infusions.

Reminder: Once more, the key is to experiment;

• keep adding water and enjoy the tea until the flavour fades.
• increase tea quantity and extend the brewing time to increase the flavour.

Refreshing Iced Tea

For small quantities, proceed as for hot tea and pour over ice.

For large quantities, prepare concentrate as follows:

• Bring one litre of cold water to a rolling boil.
• Remove from heat and add 20-30g tea or 8-10 teabags per litre as desired.
• Steep for 3-5 minutes, strain and cool to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator to chill.
• To serve, pour into tall glasses filled with ice, garnish or sweeten as desired.