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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

TEA TIME : PART 3

HOW TO BREW THE TEA 

To get the best benefits and flavors of tea, we have to brew tea on the exact time and temperature.

 

The tea tasted a little bitter when drunk which is a separate pleasure from tea.
As well as changing the potency of the antioxidants, the steep's temperature and time greatly effects the taste, especially on white and green teas.  
Camellia sinensis naturally contains tannins, which are brought out in higher quantities with the tea's exposure to hot water for longer periods. 


Black, oolong and green tea

 

Black Tea
Water for black tea is usually added near the boiling point of water. 
Many of the active substances in black tea do not develop at temperatures lower than 90 °C (194 °F).
Lower temperatures are used for some more delicate teas. 
In black teas, the tannins are part of the natural flavor, as they tend to be rich and bolder.
The temperature will have as large an effect on the final flavor as the type of tea used. 

 

The most common fault when making black tea is to use water at too low a temperature.
Black teas are usually brewed for about four minutes and are usually not allowed to steep for less than 30 seconds or more than about five minutes. 
When the tea has brewed long enough to suit the tastes of the drinker, it should be strained while serving.


Green Tea
Green tea is rich in vitamin C, and of all teas contains the highest levels of polyphenols (flavonoids), which are known for their antioxidant properties.
Water for green tea, should be around 80 to 85 °C.
The higher quality of the leaves, so we only need lower temperature. 
Hotter water will produce a bitter taste, but in so many place bitter tea is appreciated. 


Green tea is steeped in boiling water for 15 minutes.
Because of its delicate qualities, green tea should be steeped using less than boiling water, taking care not to oversteep which can cook the leaves and spoil its subtle characteristics.  

Traditional green tea after brewed, could be re-brewed

For high-quality green tea, we can added hot water as many as five or more times, depending on variety, at increasingly higher temperatures.
Green tea will lose its flavor faster than other teas, so it's recommend that we purchase smaller quantities more frequently.


Oolong Tea
Oolong teas should be brewed around 80 to 100 °C, and the brewing vessel should be warmed before pouring in the water.  
For best results, spring water should be used as the minerals in spring water tend to bring out more flavor in the tea. 

 

High quality oolong can be brewed multiple times from the same leaves, and unlike green tea, it improves with reuse. 
It is common to brew the same leaves three to five times, the third steeping usually considered the best. 


White Tea
As a premium or delicate tea, white tea is usually brewed on the temperature about 70 to 80°C for about five minutes.  
We can added hot water as many as five or more times, or we call it re-brew.
However in white and green teas, which tend to be more delicate, the tannins frequently give the tea a bitter taste which is commonly thought of as unpleasant.













How do about your brewing tea method?



Every place have their own method on brewing tea.
Cause they have their own taste on tea flavor.
Next we will talk more about the form and presentation of tea.



Have a wonderful tea time!








18 comments:

  1. So interesting and informative and I learned again something of it. We usually drink at home black tea, sometimes Earl Grey or Orange Pekoe. I warm the teapot with hot water before. For the tea I always boil the water. After boiling we put tealeaves or teabag in the pot with the water and leave it for a couple of minutes. Than we have our nice cup of tea!
    Wish you too a Happy Teatime!

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    Replies
    1. That's good! Your method is seem like a British style. Warming the tea pot will keep the tea on the best taste and aroma longer.
      Happy teatime!

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  2. Such a lot of science to get a cup of tea.

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    Replies
    1. Tea is a very special beverage. I think it's an ancient and everlasting beverage. So, we can find thousands studies about the tea. Never ending science on tea topic.

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  3. I drink tea at work so I use tea bags (orange pekoe) and pour boiling water on it in my cup then try and then hopefully I have time to drink while working.

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    Replies
    1. Good! Drinking tea at work is really help us keep focus and concentrate. Tea bag is very simple to be used at work.

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  4. I mostly drink black tea, but I do use less hot water for green tea!

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  5. Z ciekawością przeczytałam Twój post! Mało wiem na temat parzenia herbaty i nie wiedziałam że sposób parzenia zależy od gatunku herbaty. W domu najczęściej pijamy herbatki owocowe. Spróbuję Twojego sposobu! Pozdrawiam cieplutko.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Ewa. I hope will get all benefit from your tea.
      Have a wonderful week!

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  6. Thank you for that series, it was most interesting! We are having tea for breakfast and in the afternoon. My husband travels to india about twice a year and always brings home huge packages of black tea. Green tea is nice too, but must be treated more delicately. Tea-bags... well, in case of emergency...perhaps.
    Have a nice week!
    Yours Sarah

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    1. Sound so interesting, you get black tea from India twice a year. It must be a high quality tea. I hope you have brew it well and get the best benefit from tea.
      Have a wonderful week!

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  7. Thank you very much for all the information.
    Greetings.

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  8. Salam Endah,

    Sedap minum hot tea sama cake di petang (sore) hari :)

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    Replies
    1. Salam Honey,
      Betul, sangat menyenangkan berkumpul bersama keluarga di sore hari sambil minum teh.

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  9. Is it best not to boil the green tea bags in with the water? Or boil the water and place the bags in at boiling point? I am practicing getting more green tea in with out sugar.

    Thank you for these post they are interesting. Happy Tea Time

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    Replies
    1. I think it's better to avoid pouring very hot water onto tea bag or loose leaves tea. It will 'cook' the leaves and some benefical components could be get damaged, also the taste will much bitter. 'Boil' tea with the water could be increase caffein on the water. Green tea is delicate tea with minimum processing, so need minimum handling too when it's served.

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