Throwing a tea party? Follow these simple steps for brewing refreshing hot or iced tea for your guests.
Whether sharing a sip with an old friend or making a soothing cuppa for yourself, try these ideas to bring out the best flavor in your tea.
- Start with good, fresh tea, stored in an airtight, opaque container.
- Tea can pick up other flavors, so be sure you brew in a pot used only for tea.
- Pre-warm the pot with hot water that you discard before making the tea.
- Brew with spring water instead of tap water for best taste.
- Heat cold water just to boiling for black teas, just under boiling for green teas and herbals.
- For best results, measure out the right amount of tea.
- Steep for the recommended time to get the proper flavor, then pour immediately.
- For iced tea, brew double strength, then dilute with ice.
Did You Know?
- After water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage.
- A cup of black tea has roughly half the caffeine of brewed coffee. Herbal teas have none.
- Chinese legend says tea was first brewed by accident in 2737 B.C., when tea plant leaves fell into the emperor’s cup of boiling water.
- Each year, Americans drink more than 2.2 billion gallons of tea, most of it iced.
- The tea cozy, a padded cover that keeps a teapot’s contents hot, dates to 1863.
Now that you have the tea basics in the bag, check out some ideas for hosting a charming tea party with family or friends, plus expert tips on how to grow your own herbal teas.
