If you want to drink a fine cup of tea, start by properly brewing your tea. Let’s take a closer look at the rituals of tea making, so you can bring out the subtle characteristics of each cup you brew.
We at PLAIN-T have found that the “art of making tea” is a passion that inevitably grows as you discover the subtleties that exist in fine tea. No artistic talent or expert knowledge is required! All you need to experience your first truly outstanding cup of tea is to observe the few guidelines we recommend below.
Chances are, once you start brewing, the search for your perfect cup of tea will begin! In fact, we think you’ll find the process of making tea as enjoyable as your first soothing sip!
Use fine PLAIN-T loose tea leaves and brew in an appropriate cup, mug or teapot. The correct vessel lets the leaves open fully, so they can release their special aromas and flavors.
For compact teas, use 3 grams or 1 teaspoon for each 6 oz. of water.
For voluminous teas, use 2 teaspoons for each 6 oz. of water.
Believe it or not, the water you use, and how you use it, plays an important role in the taste of your tea. Use soft water such as bottled spring or filtered water. Avoid hard water such as tap water, which may contain too many chemicals. It will decidedly affect the taste of your tea.
Never over-boil your water, or it loses much of its oxygen; an integral element for enhancing your tea’s flavor.
Never pour boiling water over white or green teas—it burns the leaves and destroys their delicate flavor.
“A good tea is impossible without good water.”
Chinese writer and tea master Lu Yu
While there are many varieties and flavors of tea available, amazingly, they all derive from one tea plant—the Camellia Sinensis, which is an evergreen shrub. While all parts of the tea plant are used to make mass-produced and low quality teas, we use only the uppermost leaves and buds in our fine teas, as these are the youngest and tenderest.
Water Temperature
Start with cool water, to make sure it’s well oxygenated.
Making black or Oolong teas?
Bring the water just to a boil—about 200 degrees Fahrenheit/93.3 degrees Celsius. Remember, don’t over-boil!
Brewing white and green teas?
Keep the water well below boiling—180 degrees Fahrenheit/82.2 degrees Celsius.
Sampling Pu-erh teas?
You’ll want to keep a full boil until your water temperature reaches 210 degrees Fahrenheit/98.9 degrees Celsius.
