How to Make Tea

Tea is a popular, simple and delicious drink that can be made at home in just a few minutes. This guide on how to make tea takes you through the process of brewing a cup or pot of the leafy beverage at home, and also offers some recommendations on getting the most out of your tea experience.

• The Chinese began brewing tea thousands of years ago. From China, tea spread to Japan, then to Portugal, from whence it infiltrated the rest of Europe.http://www.stashtea.com/facts.htm After water, tea is now the world's most popular beverage.http://www.healthcastle.com/tea.shtml In addition to providing an enjoyable taste experience, the antioxidants contained in tea can benefit your health.http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/antioxidants-in-green-and-black-tea

In addition to hot teas, many people also enjoy their tea chilled (known as iced tea). Iced teas are brewed in the same way as hot teas, after which desired flavorings or sweeteners are added. Then, the tea is poured over ice, refrigerated, or both.

• You don't need much special equipment to make tea. In fact, you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen or pantry.
  • Cold water, preferably spring or filteredArt of Tea: Storage and Water Quality
  • Loose tea leaves or teabags
  • Tea kettle or saucepan
  • Teacups or coffee mugs
  • Tea strainer or tea ball (if using loose leaf tea)

• It takes just a few minutes to brew a cup of tea once you've boiled your water.

1. Bring water to a boil in a tea kettle or regular old saucepan.
2. Warm your teacups with hot water.Planet Tea: Preparation
3. If you're using a tea strainer or tea ball, fill it with tea leaves. You'll need about one teaspoon for every 6 to 8 ounces of water.Planet Tea: Preparation More tea leaves will make a stronger tea.Art of Tea: Brewing Art of Tea
4. Place your tea ball, tea strainer or teabag in your teacup.
5. Pour the hot water over the tea. For green or white tea, allow the water to cool for 30 to 60 seconds before pouring over the leaves.Planet Tea: Preparation
6. Allow tea to steep (soak in the hot water). How long you let it steep will depend on the kind of tea you're using as well as your own personal preferences.
   1. Art of Tea provides a chart of recommended steep times for many common types of tea.Art of Tea: Brewing Art of Tea
   2. The container in which the tea was packaged may also provide instructions.
   3. Remember that no matter what, the longer you steep your tea, the stronger it will become.Chinese–American Tea Association: Ask the Teamaster
   4. If you steep tea for too long, it will turn bitter.Chinese–American Tea Association: Ask the Teamaster
7. Remove the leaves from the water.

• While tea is simple to brew, knowing a few simple tips can improve your experience.

1. Store your tea in an airtight container in a cool location.Art of Tea: Storage and Water Quality
2. To reduce the amount of caffeine in your tea, pour enough water into your cup or teapot to cover the tea leaves and allow to steep for 20 seconds. Pour that water off, then fill the pot or cup with the amount of water you want to drink.Planet Tea: Preparation
3. Loose teas tend to contain larger, unbroken tea leaves and may therefore make better tea than prepackaged teabags.
4. The key to a delicious cup of tea is of course quality tea leaves. Find a local supplier or brand upon whose quality you can depend.

• Once you begin exploring, you'll find that the world of tea is beautifully complex. You can spend a lifetime discovering its history, ceremony and variety. Begin your research by checking out Mahalo's pages on How to Make Green Tea, How to Make Matcha Tea and Chai Tea.