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Tea is made by steeping natural tea leaves in hot water. Loose leaf teas offer more variety, while tea bags are more convenient. Tannins can cause bitterness, and using bottled water can improve taste. Steep for five minutes, then add sugar, honey or milk to taste.
Tea is a beverage made from natural tea leaves steeped in hot liquid to enhance the flavor, a process known as steeping. The leaves come in two forms: loose or packaged in a tea bag, a small nylon or silk packet with a string on the end. Loose leaf teas may be messier and less convenient than tea bags, but they allow the drinker more freedom in choosing the specific type of tea leaves. The string handle on tea bags may be preferable to some tea drinkers because it’s easier to remove after the steeping process.
Tannin is a natural substance found in tea leaves that can give tea a bitter taste. If you steep the tea for the right amount of time, the actual flavor of the tea leaves will be enhanced. Too long a steeping period will bring out the tannin taste and could result in a tea with such a bitter taste that you cannot effectively taste the flavor of the tea leaves.
Unfiltered tap water can contain minerals that can interfere with the natural flavor of the tea leaves, so you may prefer to use bottled water to ensure the best taste. The average ratio of water to tea leaves or tea bags is one cup (240 mL) of water for every teaspoon (5 mL) of tea leaves or tea bag. If you don’t have a teapot to steep the tea, you can simply use a large saucepan. Add the water to the teapot or saucepan and heat it on the stovetop until it starts to bubble slightly. This will ensure that the water is fully heated without being hot enough to burn or otherwise affect the taste of the tea.
Once the water has been heated, you can begin the steeping process. Turn off the stove and move the teapot or saucepan before steeping the tea or you risk overheating the tea leaves. When steeping tea, the main goal is to infuse the water with the flavor of the tea leaves, not to actually cook them.
Add a teaspoon (5 mL) of loose tea leaves to a tea infuser, a device that holds loose tea leaves and looks like a strainer, or use one tea bag for every cup of hot water. Let the infuser or tea bag sit in the hot water for about five minutes so they can color and flavor the water. Discard the tea leaves or tea bag, then pour into cups and serve. If the tea is too bitter for your taste, you can add sugar, honey or milk to soften the flavour.
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