Properly Brewing The Most Famous Teas
Do you know how to prepare the most famous teas correctly? Do you know their origins and their spread? In this article we will talk in detail about the best teas and the right way to enjoy them at their best.
Legend has it that a strange summer breeze dropped some leaves from a wild tea tree into the boiling water of Chinese Emperor Shen Nung and so this new aromatic, delicious and refreshing drink captured the ruler and later the world. .
Nowadays, tea is a very popular drink and its consumption is linked to the prevention or treatment of various cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and musculoskeletal diseases.
A cup of tea is good for when we feel weird, depressed and weak, but do we know how to make our favorite tea correctly? In this article we will explain how to prepare the most popular teas in the right way.
Learn how to properly brew your favorite teas
The tea is an infusion made mainly with the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis shrub. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and calming properties are given by its high content of polyphenols and catechins, as well as containing fluorine and mineral salts, the concentration of which varies depending on the type of tea prepared.
Green tea
The leaves with which this tea is prepared are subjected to processes of dehydration, drying and rolling. Since they do not undergo any fermentation, its nutrients and properties remain almost intact. The color is green and the flavor is very fresh.
White tea
It is produced from the still closed leaves, that is from the buds of the plant, which are dehydrated but not subjected to any type of fermentation or oxidation. Its flavor is very delicate and the name derives from the color of the shoots.
Tender
The leaves to prepare this tea undergo a long oxidation process after being dehydrated. The infusion is reddish and dark in color, and has a very high theine content.
Red tea
Also called Pu’er, red tea is produced with leaves which, after being dehydrated and dried, undergo a longer fermentation process than that of black tea, and then a maturation process that can last for decades. This process gives it the earthy aroma and coppery color typical of this tea. It is highly regarded in China.
Oolong or blue tea
It is a tea with a floral or fruity aroma, due to the short oxidation process to which its leaves are subjected; it is highly appreciated in China.
However, knowing the characteristics of each tea is not enough, because, after choosing your favorite, the time comes to prepare it and it is not as easy as it seems because like everything there is a particular technique. Below we explain how to properly prepare the most famous teas.
First of all, we provide you with some basic information:
- The ideal would be to have a teapot with enough space for the leaves to move and open inside. Wash it only with water.
- Try to use the purest water possible because its mineral content alters the flavor of the tea.
- Prepare it for immediate consumption, as this drink oxidizes over time and could be harmful to your health.
Now let’s move on to the procedure.
How to properly prepare the most popular teas
To prepare teas correctly, preheat the teapot
Use a little hot water to rinse the teapot or the container where you are going to prepare the tea and do the same with the cups. This way you will avoid heat loss when pouring the water into the cold teapot.
Heat the water
You have to use fresh water, preferably mineral water. Heat it in such a way that it does not come to a boil so that it does not lose the oxygen necessary for the preparation of a good tea. The temperature to be reached depends on the type of tea and its quality.
- Green: 65 to 85 ºC
- White: 75 to 80 ºC
- Black and red tea: 90 to 100 ºC
- Blue: 85 to 90 ºC
To prepare the teas correctly, distinguish whether to add the leaves or the water first
Depending on the type of tea, one element or the other is added first. If the leaf is delicate and soft like that of blue tea, water is usually added to the teapot first and then the tea. Conversely, if the leaf is robust as in some varieties of black tea, the opposite is done. These steps greatly affect the flavor of the brew. Then cover.
Leave to infuse
It depends on the country, the type of tea and the flavor we want to achieve. During the first minute the leaves transfer almost all the flavor and theine to the water, while starting from the two minutes they begin to release tannins that give a sour taste.
- White: 1-2 minutes
- Green: 1-3 minutes
- Blue: 3 minutes
- Black and red: 2-3 minutes
Serve and enjoy:
Sugar changes the properties and flavor of tea, so try to enjoy it naturally if you can.
Is there only one method of making teas correctly?
Now you know how to make your favorite tea optimally, but it is important that you also know that there is no single method of preparation. So, we briefly report five different ways to prepare it according to the traditions of each country. Experiment with them and choose yours.
Traditional British Method
Add one teaspoon of tea per cup and one extra in the teapot. This dose can vary according to the type of tea and personal tastes. The boiling water is poured over the leaves and covered for the minutes required by the type of tea prepared.
The cup is heated before serving the tea.
Japanese method
Put a teaspoon of tea in each cup. Then pour in some boiling water. Then beat for a few seconds using a bamboo whisk.
Russian method
Add 3-4 teaspoons of tea for half a liter of water. A little is poured into each cup and the hot water from the samovar (a metal container traditionally used in Russia) is diluted. It can be sweetened with sugar or jam.
Moroccan method
The tea is placed in the teapot and a small amount of boiling water is added. Then this water is eliminated and the teapot is filled with boiling water and the tea is left to infuse for a few minutes.
It is served in glasses with fresh dwarf mint leaves .
Pakistani method
Six people use one liter of milk and two tablespoons of tea. Heat the milk until it boils and pour over the tea. Let it sit for five minutes and then serve.
You can sweeten it as you like and add spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger.
