A Perfect Proper Cup of Tea

This is a subject I have avoided.  Most long time tea drinkers have their favorite brewing methods and it would be presumptuous of me to instruct them on the "How To's" of steeping tea! And I guarantee there are probably as many techniques for the "perfect cup" of tea as there are tea drinkers!

However, if you are new to the world of "loose" tea...tea that doesn't come in a bag with a little string and tag attached...then perhaps a few helpful hints will insure your success.

***Use loose tea*** Usually loose tea is better quality than tea in a tea bag.  Broken leaves or leaf "dust" is what goes into tea bags.

***Add tea to teapot***Using an infuser or tea filter measure about one teaspoon per cup into the teapot.  If you have a 4 cup teapot, you would add 4 teaspoons of tea.  I usually add a little extra because I like a full bodied tea. You will have to experiment and decide how you like your tea. In some tea circles the loose leaves are deposited directly into the teapot and a strainer is used when pouring the tea into a cup.  I prefer the filter or infuser method...much easier to clean and the tea doesn't become bitter.

***Water and Time*** Heat the water to boiling for black tea & steep between 3-5 minutes.

Cool water slightly for Oolong tea and steep between 2-5 minutes.  Oolong can be steeped again using the same leaves.

Cool water to about 180 degrees for green tea. Steep between 2-4 minutes.

If you are using a white tea you only need the temperature of the water to reach about 165 degrees and steep it  between 3-7 minutes.

If you use water that is too hot for green or white tea, it will become bitter.

Milk, lemon, or sugar can be added if you desire.  Milk is not generally added to green, Oolong or herbal teas.

Store unused tea leaves in an airtight container.

And now you have one method of making a perfect proper cup of tea!  Make a pot of your favorite tea and enjoy!

Happy Infusions,

Kate

http://tea4kate.com

Tea Tasting and Friends.....

A big thank you to all our family and friends who attended the Tea Tasting Party at the Antique Cottage and Garden Friday night.  I miss all of you and it was absolutely divine to connect again with so many of you !!

Thank you also to Lynni Miller, the owner of Antique Cottage and Garden, and Kelly and Mark, who all pitched in to help us get ready !  Lynni, the goodies were perfect with the teas....thanks !

Congratulations to the winners of the door prizes !!

My Sweet Husband is the best !  He patiently loaded and unloaded teas, teapots, hats and all kinds of other necessary "stuff" !

We couldn't bring the entire tea room inventory......

so we brought some old favorites ..... and some new ones to try.....

Of course, we had to brew a pot of our most requested tea at the tea room...French Creme Brulee...

and what's a tea party without a green tea ? We tasted our lovely Japanese Bancha !

Aunt Ressie May, a strawberry-kiwi fruit  infusion (no Camellia sinensis-- no real tea--) has been a delicious choice since we first  introduced it as our signature "Drink Pink" tea several years ago.

A blooming tea contributed to the ambiance of the evening...

The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the garden was delightful.......

Thank you again everyone for making this enjoyable, and successful and we look forward to the next Tea Tasting Party !

Happy Infusions,

Kate

http://tea4kate.com

http://oregonstretteacompany.com

http://twitter.com/tea4kate

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It's a "canna" not a "cuppa".....

I had to make a quick stop at Orchard Nutrition yesterday.

http://orchardnutrition.com

I was tired and thirsty, and on the verge of cranky ! But there in the cold drink fridge was a little blue and white can. A "canna" iced tea ! Not any old iced tea, not that sweet stuff with wierd flavors, no, it was....Oolong iced tea !

I adore Oolong tea !! And ITO EN products ! This little "shot", a small can, 6.4 fluid ounces, is

flavorful and tastes like an Oolong is supposed to....full bodied and toasty with an astringent finish. Copious amounts of antioxidants are found in black and green and oolong tea...all good for you !!

http://webmd.com/food-recipes/features/antioxidants-in-green-and-black-tea

Ice cold, unsweetened, all natural and no calories, deliciously refreshing for the hot trip home !

May everyday be your cuppa ( or canna ) of tea !

Kate

"Camellia Sinensis, please"

Sometimes, if I ask for hot tea at a restaurant, a mug of lukewarm water and a colorful assortment of little square packages are set in front of me. I inhale and politely thumb through the Herbal Peppermint, Berry Berry (no caffeine), and Chamomile packets, and finally inquire, "Do you have any Black tea?" Off the server trots, returning with an off brand lifeless tea bag. The temptation to expound on real tea, is overwhelming. Keeping my hand on my mouth & shoving the tea information file to the back of my mind, allows me to remain a decent, sweet, smiling human being.

Anything that can be infused is referred to as "tea". Herbal concoctions, often consumed for medicinal purposes, abound. Common herbal "teas" include Chamomile, Hibiscus, Lemon Grass and various Mints ( Spearmint, Peppermint). Fruit infusions like Raspberry, Cranberry, or Apple are popular "teas". However, unless one of these infusions contains some form of the Camelllia sinensis plant, it's not really tea!

Camellia sinensis , an evergreen bush, is a single species, of many varieties. The tea plant can grow easily in most conditions, but does not always produce "good" tea. ( My own little tea plant is "failing to succeed" in this Redding, California heat..see photo). Tea, like wine, is influenced by the soil, rainfall, elevation and a myriad of other factors which contribute to its characteristics. Countries that have perfected specialty teas include India, China, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and some South American countries. In the United States, there is one tea garden that produces and sells tea. The Charleston Tea Garden, on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina, owned by Bigelow, still harvests and manufactures tea. All real tea, whether it is white, green, black or oolong, is produced from this Camellia sinensis plant.

I think when I'm eating out, my drink order will be, "Cameillia sinenis, please". Then, I'm sure there will be no confusion. Just in case though, I do have my own real tea, in a zip-lock baggie in my purse ! Some people carry a flask with their favorite alcohol, I carry a plastic baggie with my favorite tea!
May all your infusions be tea-lightful !
Kate