[ z{ gxt WxÄ z{àáë XááxÇà tä gxt UÜxã Çz Zâ wx Tea! The panacea for everything from weariness, to a cold, to murder. Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea. ~ Henry Fielding Tea really is a cure-all and, along with a slice of cake and good company is undoubtedly the best partner to a good cuppa. The question of how to brew that perfect cup is undoubtedly in everyone s mind. One person s perfect cup of tea is not necessarily another s, so different blends and brewing times should be a matter of personal taste rather than an absolute - use our tips as a guide and not as a hard and fast rule. gxt utzá? ÑÉâv{xá? ÉÜ ÄxtäxáR Loose Leaf Traditionally, lose leaf tea represents the epitome of tea making. Leaves are placed in a warmed pot (straight in or using an infuser) which is then filled with freshly boiled water. The tea is left to brew for a few minutes and then poured into china teacups using a strainer to avoid any of the leaves escaping from the pot into the cup. You can also use an infuser, teabags, or pyramid tea pouches, all either in the pot or directly in a cup. Tea Bags Tea bags offer convenience, especially when only making tea for one or two, but are widely considered to be inferior to lose leaf tea - for truly delicious, aromatic, full-flavoured tea, the leaves need to be large and have room to swell and release their essential oils and flavours. Tea Pyramids Tea pyramids offer the perfect alternative, they contain real loose leaf tea and offer the convenience of personalising your perfect cup without the mess of loose leaf tea (you ll never find any rogue leaves in the bottom of your cup) and yet are equally as flavoursome. As the pyramid pouches themselves and the leaves and spices in them are larger, they produce beautiful tea, true to quality and tradition. dâtçà àç ÉäxÜ à Åx Different teas require different brewing times but if you like to take your tea stronger than the average, you should add more leaves rather than letting the tea steep for longer - this will ensure your tea is stronger and not just more bitter. The rule of thumb is to use one heaped teaspoon per cup, plus one for the pot. However, stronger teas (such as Assam) and those typically drunk with milk require extra leaves, and more delicate teas (such as Darjeeling) should be prepared with fewer leaves so that the punchier mid-flavours do not dominate the softer Champagne notes. g{x ÑxÜyxvà àxåñxütàâüx Again, the type of tea is a huge determining factor when it comes to the perfect water temperature. Generally, teas such as green or white which have little or no oxidation period should be brewed between 75C and 85C, whereas those with longer oxidation periods should be brewed with water which has just reached boiling point.
A high temperature is essential in order to release the complex flavours of the phenolic molecules found in fermented tea, as well as to reduce the dissolved oxygen levels in the water and thus retain the tea s antioxidant properties. It is therefore recommended that the water is allowed to reach boiling point even if your tea requires a lower temperature - just leave it to cool for a few minutes before pouring. Y Çw Çz çéâü ÑxÜáÉÇtÄ àtáàx The best way to both figure out the way you like your tea to be brewed and to appreciate the flavour of the tea throughout the brewing process, is to take a sip every 30 seconds. Each time, the leaves will have imparted different flavours, evolving the taste of the tea and allowing you to appreciate its life from freshly brewing to stewing. ` Ä~? ÄxÅÉÇ? áâztü ÉÜ ÑÄt ÇR As a general rule, white tea, oolong and green teas are best served on their own, while brewed black teas often are enhanced by additional flavourings. The most commonly used flavourings are milk, lemon, and sugar. It is entirely up to you whether or not you wish to enhance your tea and there is no hard rule other than making sure you enjoy your tea, no matter how you prefer it. _ÉÉáx _xty gxt Ç f Ä~ç cçütå wá UÜxã Çz Zâ wx gxt cçütå w Ç t céà Just because you re using a teapot doesn t mean you have to use loose leaf tea. Our roomy, silky pyramid pouches offer the intense flavours of tea brewed with loose leaves but with the convenience of a bag - perfect for mess-free tea without compromise. Warm the pot. Add one pyramid per 250ml of water, or 1 pyramid per cup. Fill the pot with freshly boiled water and leave to infuse for a few minutes, swaying the bags a couple of times as it brews. The amount of time needed to infuse as well as the ideal temperature will depend on the tea so follow the instructions of how to brew lose leaf tea further down this guide. Pour the tea into cups and serve with milk or sugar to taste, if required. gxt cçütå w Ç t VâÑ There is nothing more symbolic of a High Tea than the experience of enjoying the different flavours and blends of tea on offer. Our roomy, silky triangular pyramids offer the intense flavours of tea brewed with loose leaves but with the added convenience of a bag - perfect for single cups so everyone can enjoy the blends of their choice. Warm the cup.
Add 1 triangular pouch to the cup. Pour freshly boiled water into the cup and gently sway the bag as it infuses. The amount of time needed to infuse as well as the ideal temperature will depend on the tea so follow the instructions of how to brew lose leaf tea further down this guide. Remove the bag and then serve with milk or sugar to taste, if required. _ÉÉáx _xty gxt UÜxã Çz Zâ wx UÄtv~ gxt Classic Black tea, English Breakfast and Earl Grey are all classed as black teas and should be brewed at 100C. Simply follow the steps below to make the perfect cup for yourself at any time. Warm the pot by pouring hot water into it, swirling it around and then tipping it away. Add one heaped teaspoon per person into the pot. Pour freshly boiled water into the pot to fill it. Allow the leaves to infuse the water for 3-5 minutes, depending on the leaf type - the bigger the leaf, the longer the brewing time. Step 5: Stir the leaves a few times as they infuse the water in order to ensure an even flavour distribution. Step 6: Once brewed, pour with a strainer (or remove the infuser if using one) and serve with milk and sugar to taste if required. béäéçz gxt Oolong tea falls between green and black. The best temperature is around 90C but oolong should be brewed longer than black tea, for around 5-8 minutes. If you haven t got a kettle with temperature controls, pour hot water 4/5 of the way to the top, then add 1/5 of lukewarm water to cool the temperature to about 90C. Add one heaped teaspoon per cup to the pot or infuser. Allow the tea to brew for 5-8 minutes. Remove the infuser or strain the tea directly into cups once brewed. ZÜxxÇ gxt Green Teas should not be brewed for longer than a maximum of 3 minutes or the leaves will stew, resulting in a highly bitter and astringent flavour. Always serve green tea on its own and never with milk or sugar.
If you haven t got a kettle with temperature controls don t fill the pot with boiling water or you will scald the leaves, resulting in a bitter taste. Instead, pour hot water 4/5 of the way to the top, then add 1/5 of cold water to cool the temperature to about 80C. Add one heaped teaspoon per cup to the pot or infuser. Allow the tea to brew for 2-3 minutes. Remove the infuser or strain the tea directly into cups once brewed. j{ àx gxt White Tea is a delicate tea that should be treated gently. Water can be a bit warmer than for green tea, at 85C. You should let it brew longer than green tea, around 4-6 minutes. If you haven t got a kettle with temperature controls don t fill the pot with boiling water or you will scald the leaves, resulting in a bitter taste. Instead, pour hot water 4/5 of the way to the top, then add 1/5 of cold water to cool the temperature to about 85C. Add one heaped teaspoon per cup to the pot or infuser. Allow the tea to brew for 4-6 minutes. Remove the infuser or strain the tea directly into cups once brewed. [xüutä gxtá Herbal tisanes like Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemongrass & Ginger poses healing properties and can be incredibly soothing, relaxing, or invigorating and uplifting. Herbal teas should never be served with milk but can be sweetened with a little honey if desired. After warming the pot, add one heaped teaspoon per cup. Pour freshly boiled water into the pot. Allow the leaves to steep for 3-5 minutes, or, for a more concentrated flavour, brew the leaves for a few minutes longer. When the tea has brewed to your satisfaction, use a strainer to pour and serve immediately. V{t gxt The warm spices of chai tea evoke the exotic country from which it originates. Best Chai teas are based on traditional Indian marsala chai. It can be served either by brewing as you would any other tea or using the traditional method with soy milk for a rich, creamy, decadent drink. We recommend using a plunger to allow the leaves to brew for longer, which creates a richer taste. Warm the plunger.
Add 2 heaped teaspoons of tea. Half-fill the plunger with hot water and leave it to brew while you steam the milk. Pour the steamed milk into the plunger and leave it to brew for a further 2-3 minutes. Step 5: Plunge and serve with honey to taste. \vxw gxt UÜxã Çz Zâ wx When the weather heats up, nothing hits the spot like a refreshing glass of iced tea. We recommend using an iced tea jug for both convenience and to achieve the best results. Try fruity teas that are perfect for a hot summer s day. \vx gxt ;gâü~ á{ V{xÜÜç< Twist off lid; pour cold water in the jug until half full. If using our ice tea jug, add 7 heaped tablespoons of tea - this will make 6-7 glasses. Gently twist lid closed. Shake lightly or stir with a long spoon until the ingredients are dissolved. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the tea, top up with cold water and then garnish with fresh berries or strawberries before serving. [Éà g átçxá UÜxã Çz Zâ wx ;gâü~ á{ TÑÑÄx< When the weather starts to cool, a hot beverage is ideal to warm your guests up before your High Tea. We recommend using our tea jugs for both convenience and to achieve the best results. [Éà gâü~ á{ TÑÑÄx Twist off lid, warm the heat-proof iced tea jug by swilling with hot water and then pouring it away. If using our jug, add 7 heaped tablespoons of tea - this will make 6-7 glasses. Pour freshly boiled water into the jug, stir, add apple pieces and cinnamon if required, and serve with lid on but not sealed. Y ÇtÄ jéüwá We hope you have found our guide to be useful and informative. Despite all the rules the main one is that you enjoy your tea despite how you have it, and that you also enjoy the process of making your tea. It is through this that you will rediscover the art of sharing this beautiful tradition with your guests. Thank you for using our services and we look forward to serving you more of our exciting teas now and in the future. The High Tea Delights Team