Do you drink tea?
A Guide to Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea
source: http://www.dilmah.com/teaism/ord_cuppa.html
To prepare the perfect cup of tea, one requires a few moments of time and some simple utensils and ingredients. Most importantly good tea – tea that is picked, and packed at origin is usually better as it implies that the tea is fresh. Tea like Dilmah is origin packed within days of harvesting and that is important because in addition to retaining the aroma, flavour and character of tea, fresh tea is also richer in healthful antioxidants.
Tea is an elegant beverage and has certain subtleties which contribute to the experience of a good cup of tea. Unlike coffee tea does not overpower the water in which it is brewed but enters into marriage with it, creating a brew that is influenced by the quality of both tea and water. The quality of water is very important therefore. Spring water is ideal, alternatively if the water in your area is not hard, water for tea could be drawn from the cold tap. It should be boiled, but just once, because boiling twice would lose the Carbon Dioxide and other dissolved gases in water that fuse with the tea to produce a quality brew.
Using a clean and dry kettle, the water should be boiled and poured into a teacup, mug or pot as desired. A teapot, mug or cup of white porcelain is recommended as its permits aesthetic appreciation of the tea.
It is important to use the right amount of water. One teabag or a teaspoonful of tea will brew a cup or mug of tea (around 220ml). When using a large teapot, care should be taken not to pour in too much or too little water as too much will produce a weak brew and too little will yield tea that is excessively strong. To brew black tea, pour the freshly boiled water directly onto the teabag or leaf tea in the pot. Stir gently after one minute and allow to brew for a further 2 or 3 minutes. In the case of green tea, white tea, or very fine black tea, allow the water to cool for a minute or two before pouring into the pot or cup. When using leaf tea, use a stainless steel strainer to strain the leaves when pouring into the cup.
When making Green Teas, brew for 1.5 to 2 minutes. Certain Green and Oolong Teas can be brewed three times producing three infusions from the same leaves, each time adding 30 seconds to the brewing time.
The addition of sugar and milk are contentious issues, although ultimately it is a matter for individual preference. If you enjoy tea with milk, use warm dairy milk. Most black teas take milk well although there are some such as light high grown Ceylon Tea which would lose their subtlety to any additive. Strong black tea like Dilmah Ceylon Supreme, English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast can take milk well and a touch of milk should be added until the brew lightens into a reddish brown, or as preferred.
The same goes for sugar which is as individual as milk. Delicate teas should be enjoyed straight, without milk or sugar although if sugar is desired, use refined white sugar. As an alternative try a natural sweetener like pure honey. Garnishes such as a sliver of Ginger, crushed Mint leaves or Lemongrass or Lemon go well with tea and in some cases offer additional health benefits.
Tea should be stored in a cool and dry place. Moisture affects tea, causing it to lose aroma and flavour whilst also reducing its healthfulness. Keeping tea in a cool and dry place, such as a clean, odour free and airtight container inside a refrigerator, would permit storage for upto 3 years. Being hygroscopic, tea absorbs moisture and kitchen odours easily and when making tea it is important therefore to use a clean and dry teaspoon, opening and resealing the tea quickly after use.
That is a complex explanation perhaps but then tea is a complex and sophisticated beverage which demands respect! In summary,
Step 1 select fresh tea of good quality, ideally leaf tea. Dilmah Leaf Tea is origin packed in vacuum pouches which retain the freshness and flavour of the tea right until the pack is opened.Step 2 draw fresh water from the cold tap, or if the water in your area is hard, use spring water.Step 3 use a clean and dry kettle, and boil the water, remembering never to use twice boiled water for tea.Step 4 use clean and dry, white porcelain or china teacups, tea mugs or pot and pour the right amount of water directly onto the tea or teabag. The rule of thumb is approx. 250ml of water per teabag or teaspoon of tea.Step 5 leave to brew, stirring after a minute. For black tea, allow to brew for a total of 3 minutes, green tea 1.5 minutes, and in the case of leaf tea add one minute.Step 6 pour into clean and dry cups or mugs, using a stainless steel strainer if brewing leaf tea, and enjoy! Add sugar or milk to taste, but never to green tea, oolong tea or herbal infusions.
source: http://www.dilmah.com/teaism/ord_cuppa.html
To prepare the perfect cup of tea, one requires a few moments of time and some simple utensils and ingredients. Most importantly good tea – tea that is picked, and packed at origin is usually better as it implies that the tea is fresh. Tea like Dilmah is origin packed within days of harvesting and that is important because in addition to retaining the aroma, flavour and character of tea, fresh tea is also richer in healthful antioxidants.
Tea is an elegant beverage and has certain subtleties which contribute to the experience of a good cup of tea. Unlike coffee tea does not overpower the water in which it is brewed but enters into marriage with it, creating a brew that is influenced by the quality of both tea and water. The quality of water is very important therefore. Spring water is ideal, alternatively if the water in your area is not hard, water for tea could be drawn from the cold tap. It should be boiled, but just once, because boiling twice would lose the Carbon Dioxide and other dissolved gases in water that fuse with the tea to produce a quality brew.
Using a clean and dry kettle, the water should be boiled and poured into a teacup, mug or pot as desired. A teapot, mug or cup of white porcelain is recommended as its permits aesthetic appreciation of the tea.
It is important to use the right amount of water. One teabag or a teaspoonful of tea will brew a cup or mug of tea (around 220ml). When using a large teapot, care should be taken not to pour in too much or too little water as too much will produce a weak brew and too little will yield tea that is excessively strong. To brew black tea, pour the freshly boiled water directly onto the teabag or leaf tea in the pot. Stir gently after one minute and allow to brew for a further 2 or 3 minutes. In the case of green tea, white tea, or very fine black tea, allow the water to cool for a minute or two before pouring into the pot or cup. When using leaf tea, use a stainless steel strainer to strain the leaves when pouring into the cup.
When making Green Teas, brew for 1.5 to 2 minutes. Certain Green and Oolong Teas can be brewed three times producing three infusions from the same leaves, each time adding 30 seconds to the brewing time.
The addition of sugar and milk are contentious issues, although ultimately it is a matter for individual preference. If you enjoy tea with milk, use warm dairy milk. Most black teas take milk well although there are some such as light high grown Ceylon Tea which would lose their subtlety to any additive. Strong black tea like Dilmah Ceylon Supreme, English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast can take milk well and a touch of milk should be added until the brew lightens into a reddish brown, or as preferred.
The same goes for sugar which is as individual as milk. Delicate teas should be enjoyed straight, without milk or sugar although if sugar is desired, use refined white sugar. As an alternative try a natural sweetener like pure honey. Garnishes such as a sliver of Ginger, crushed Mint leaves or Lemongrass or Lemon go well with tea and in some cases offer additional health benefits.
Tea should be stored in a cool and dry place. Moisture affects tea, causing it to lose aroma and flavour whilst also reducing its healthfulness. Keeping tea in a cool and dry place, such as a clean, odour free and airtight container inside a refrigerator, would permit storage for upto 3 years. Being hygroscopic, tea absorbs moisture and kitchen odours easily and when making tea it is important therefore to use a clean and dry teaspoon, opening and resealing the tea quickly after use.
That is a complex explanation perhaps but then tea is a complex and sophisticated beverage which demands respect! In summary,
Step 1 select fresh tea of good quality, ideally leaf tea. Dilmah Leaf Tea is origin packed in vacuum pouches which retain the freshness and flavour of the tea right until the pack is opened.Step 2 draw fresh water from the cold tap, or if the water in your area is hard, use spring water.Step 3 use a clean and dry kettle, and boil the water, remembering never to use twice boiled water for tea.Step 4 use clean and dry, white porcelain or china teacups, tea mugs or pot and pour the right amount of water directly onto the tea or teabag. The rule of thumb is approx. 250ml of water per teabag or teaspoon of tea.Step 5 leave to brew, stirring after a minute. For black tea, allow to brew for a total of 3 minutes, green tea 1.5 minutes, and in the case of leaf tea add one minute.Step 6 pour into clean and dry cups or mugs, using a stainless steel strainer if brewing leaf tea, and enjoy! Add sugar or milk to taste, but never to green tea, oolong tea or herbal infusions.
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