Beginning Tea Making

• Because water is one of the most important elements of tea, you must start with high quality water that does not impart off-flavors in your tea. Use fresh, cold-filtered, spring, bottled or tap water to make tea. Fill a tea kettle or saucepan with water and over high heat, heat the water until just before it begins to boil. Use 1 teaspoon of loose tea leaves or one tea bag per 6 ounce cup that you plan to make. If you are using loose leaf tea, place the tea in an infuser or teapot so that the leaves can be easily removed after steeping.

Tea-Steeping Basics

• Once your tea bag or leaves are combined with water, cover the cup or kettle to allow it to reach its fullest and most flavorful potential. If you are steeping tea in a kettle, place its lid on directly after pouring the water over the tea. If you are using a teacup, cover it with a saucer so that the valuable steam does not escape. Covering the tea while steeping will ensure that your tea maintains its temperature better and that it develops a strong and robust flavor during the recommended steeping time.

Tea-Steeping Times

• Black, oolong and red teas should be steeped for the longest amount of time to extract the best flavor. Steep loose leaf black, oolong and red teas for five to seven minutes and bagged teas for three to seven minutes. White and green teas are more delicate and extended steeping can cause bitterness. Steep white loose leaf teas for two to three minutes and bagged white teas for up to 60 seconds. Steep loose leaf green teas for two to four minutes and bagged teas for one to three minutes.

Serving Tea

• After your tea has been steeped to the strength you desire, promptly remove the tea bag or loose leaf tea from your cup or teapot. Allowing tea to steep past recommended times will cause bitterness that can ruin your cup of tea. Serve tea immediately while still hot or ice it for a cold and refreshing beverage. Flavor tea further with honey or sugar to taste or add milk or cream as desired to enhance its flavor.