While most people simply dunk a tea bag into a cup of hot water and sip, a truly delicious cup of tea requires quality ingredients and proper preparation. To make a good cup of tea, either for pure enjoyment or as natural medicine, you will need the right supplies.
Instructions
1. Choose high-quality loose-leaf teas, as it is difficult to judge the quality or age of tea packaged in bags. Additionally, tea bags suffocate the herbs, which reduces the steep and can change the final taste of tea. Loose-leaf teas are processed with greater care and are generally fresher, providing a better flavor.
2. Pack the tea ball loosely, filling about three quarters of one half of the ball to allow for even flow of water throughout. Only make one cup of tea with each ball, replacing the loose leaves or using a separate ball for other cups of tea. If you are preparing more than once cup of tea, larger tea balls are available. However, remember to only fill one half of the ball three quarters of the way, using one to two teaspoons of loose-leaf tea for each cup of hot water.
3. Make a good cup of tea with a nice, clean kettle. Because water contains minerals, your kettle can quickly build up a hard layer of lime and other sediments. Make sure that you scrub and rinse the kettle thoroughly and often.
4. Use filtered tap water for making tea, as it has a high amount of oxygen circulating throughout, unlike bottled, distilled or previously boiled water. Bring water to a rolling boil for most teas. However, if you are making bitter tea, such as dandelion or green tea, allow the water to simmer, but not boil, as boiling water can make your tea even more bitter.
5. Pour the water directly over the tea ball and then cover the mug with a saucer or the tea kettle with the lid to allow your tea to steep. For a general pleasure cup of tea, steeping three to five minutes is usually good. To make medicinal tea, steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the tea ball before serving.
6. Wait to add sweetener or milk until your tea is fully steeped and you have removed the ball. While white sugar is the most common sweetener for tea, you can make an especially good cup by using raw honey or raw sugar instead of the more processed and chemical laden alternatives. When adding milk, make sure that it has warmed to room temperature to prevent scalding when pouring it into the hot tea.
Tags: half ball, sure that, three quarters
