Tea is a wonderful way to celebrate world cultures in the comfort of your own home.
The culture of tea began in China thousands of years ago.
Since tea made its way around the world with the Dutch East India company in the mid 1600s many cultures have curated their own specific way of enjoying tea.
Tea has become an international symbol of hospitality.
From Morocco to Thailand to the United Kingdom, sharing tea is a common way to show your guests that you care. Tea gifts are the perfect present for any friends who: love traveling, trying new things, indulging in unique cultures, or simply just love tea.
When you give the gift of tea you give the gift of a new experience.
With a tea subscription from Sips By, you’ll introduce your loved one to incredible teas from around the world based on their personal preference.
Whether you choose this as a gift for a dear friend, family member or as a treat to yourself, here are some easy steps to follow to make sure you make the perfect cup of tea every time.
1. Boil Your Water
Always start with fresh, filtered, cold water. For best results use a kettle to boil your water. Refrain from using the microwave as it may change the flavor of your tea.
Once the kettle whistles it’s ready to go. Do not let the water boil too long as that will cause more oxygen to boil out of the water and give your tea a flat taste.
If using a teapot, fill it with warm water while you wait for the water to boil.
This way you won’t risk your lovely teapot cracking when you add the boiling water.
2. Pour Boiling Water Over Tea
Next, you will pour the water over your tea. If using a tea bag simply use one bag per cup of tea. If using loose leaf tea use about one teaspoon of tea per every cup, or 6oz, of water.
If you do opt for loose leaf tea you can use a tea filter.
These are a charming addition to any tea lover’s collection and make fabulous gifts.
You can also easily make loose leaf tea for a crowd by using a french press to easily strain tea leaves from the water before pouring.
There are also teapots made specifically for loose leaf tea.
3. Allow Tea to Steep
Now you must allow the tea to steep with the hot water. Different teas require different amounts of time for best flavor. I
f some teas steep for too long they will develop a bitter taste.
Other teas may not have time to develop a full flavor profile if you do not give them enough time to steep.
These times are suggested; but, as you develop your personal palate you may find your perfect cup of tea steeps a little shorter or longer.
- Black Tea 4 minutes
- Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast, and Darjeeling
- Chai Tea 5 minutes
- Teas common in India including: Masala, Adrak (ginger), and Kashmiri
- Green Tea 2 minutes
- Jasmine, Sencha, and Matcha
- Herbal Tea 4 minutes
- Rose, Lavender, Chamomile, and mint
- Red Tea 4 minutes
- Chinese herbal rooibos tea with no caffeine variations include: Keemun and Lapsang Souchong
- Oolong Tea 3 minutes
- Between a black and a green tea oolong is a traditional chinese tea which is made from partially oxidized tea leaves.
- White Tea 1 minute
- Made from the same tea leaves as black and green teas; however, white tea is harvested before the tea leaves reach maturity giving it a more delicate flavor.
You can also use loose leaf tea to make cold brew iced tea. Simply mix in a pitcher of cold filtered water and leave in your refrigerator.
- Steep white or green tea for 6-8 hours
- Steep black or oolong 8-12 hours
Iced tea makes the perfect beverage to share with guests on hot summer days. You can use a tea press or french press to more easily strain your cold brew iced tea.
Alternatively, you could pour through a cheesecloth to filter out the loose tea leaves.
4. Enjoy Your Perfect Cup of Tea
Now that your tea has steeped it’s ready for you to enjoy.
Sip it from your favorite mug. Add a sprinkle of sugar or a squeeze of honey. Many take their tea with milk, try adding a dash before pouring the tea into your cup.
This way the milk will gently cool your tea making it the perfect temperature for you to sip.
If you made a cold brew, pour over a large glass of ice and garnish with a lemon wedge.