BREW GUIDE
HOW TO BREW: THE PROPER WAY
Though there is no hard and fast rule for preparing tea, the name of the game is patience. Making a luscious cup of tea is nothing more than experimenting with tea leaves, amount of leaves used, water temperature, the time of infusion, and the vessel the tea is brewed in. So, experiment! Let your palate alone be your guide.
If you are new to the art of brewing, don't panic. We've got you covered. Here we are giving you a basic technique to brew tea. Remember, these instructions are just a starting point — adjust it to your taste as you develop your personal tea ritual! The point is that you enjoy your tea.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
WATER
Water for tea is best when it has a clear, crisp taste and is soft, free of chlorine, and low in alkalinity. Distilled water should be avoided since the lack of minerals will leave the tea tasting flat.
TEMPERATURE
Water temperature is a crucial element in the tea brewing process. Each variety of tea — from green to black — needs to be prepared at a different temperature. Generally speaking, for black tea, which are more highly oxidized, and in the case of oolongs, which have a larger or "denser" leaf, the water temperature will be higher. For brewing white and most green tea, as well as tea that show a lighter leaf colour, the water should be cooler, certainly below boiling.
QUANTITY
For one person, each suggested serving is about 4 grams. For 2 people, use around 6-8 grams. However this is flexible to your personal preferences or taste. Feel free to use more if you prefer a stronger brew or less if you wish it to be on the lighter side. Try out different quantities and see what appeals to you.
STEEP TIME
Different kinds of tea need to be brewed for different lengths of time. Delicate tea, such as green tea, need to be brewed for shorter durations while heartier black tea benefit from longer infusions.
VESSEL
The material of the teapot being used also affects the quality of the infusion. Iron and similarly heavy materials are better for tea that needs to be prepared at high temperatures, such as black tea. Green and white tea, on the other hand, needs a vessel that stays cooler, such as porcelain.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
1. Bring water to a gentle boil
2. Remove heat.
3. Add the proper amount of tea leaves per person to a pot.
4. Allow water to cool to the proper temperature, if necessary, and pour over the tea leaves.
5. Steep for the proper length of time.
6. Strain completely into another teapot or directly into the serving cups.
| Steeping Instruction |  |  |  |
| BLACK TEA (LEAF) | 1 tsp | 195'F | 3-4 min |
| BLACK TEA (CTC) | 1 tsp | 195'F | 4-5 min |
| OOLONG TEA | 1 tsp | 165'F | 2-3 min |
| GREEN TEA | 1 tsp | 175'F | 4-5 min |
| WHITE TEA | 1 tsp | 208'F | 5-6 min |
| HERBAL TEA | 1 tsp | 175'F | 2-3 min |
| FLAVORED TEA | 1 tsp | 195'F | 2-3 min |
Black Tea
| BLACK TEA (LEAF) | 1 tsp | 195'F | 3-4 min |
Black Tea (CTC)
| BLACK TEA (CTC) | 1 tsp | 195'F | 4-5 min |
Oolong Tea
| OOLONG TEA | 1 tsp | 165'F | 2-3 min |
Green Tea
| GREEN TEA | 1 tsp | 165'F | 2-3 min |
White Tea
| WHITE TEA | 1 tsp | 175'F | 4-5 min |
Herbal Tea
| HERBAL TEA | 1 tsp | 208'F | 5-6 min |
Flavored Tea
| FLAVORED TEA | 1 tsp | 175'F | 2-3 min |
Ice Tea
| ICE TEA | 1 tsp | 195'F | 2-3 min |
