A Guide To Brewing Tea

Tea is one of the more sought-after beverages in the world, only second to water. The reason for this can be due to its ease in preparing a fresh cuppa and its many health benefits. Moreover, the Ceylon Tea drinking experience has transformed into a diverse range of flavours, herbal infusions and many other mixtures. However, although brewing a cup can be so simple, many often get it wrong in some way or another, which, on the tongue of the avid tea drinker, can change tasteful tea into quite the opposite. Here’s our guide on how to brew tea! 

What You Need To Brew Tea

Before getting into the nitty gritty of actually preparing the beverage, it is important that you have the necessary utensils to prepare it. This may be taken for granted by many; however, it is a very important part of preparing the prefect cuppa. 

• Tea leaves (either in teabags or in loose-leaf form)
• Fresh spring water
• Clean kettle
• Clean tea pot
• Clean teaspoons
• Clean cups and saucers

Of course, the key ingredient is the very tea leaves itself, thus making it imperative to use the best of it. Regardless of whether it is Black Tea, Green Tea, Herbal Infusions, Silver Tips, or Golden Tips, choosing Zesta guarantees a tea drinking experience like no other.

How to Prepare Loose Leaf Tea

Preparing Zesta’s loose-leaf teas are very simple and can be done by anyone who craves for a fresh cuppa. 

• Boil fresh spring water to 100°C
• Prepare tea leaves in pot or cup (2g or one teaspoon per person)
• Pour boiled water onto tea leaves (200ml per person)
• Close cup or pot to preserve aroma
• Stir after 1 minute so it brews well
• Leave it to brew for another 3-4 minutes
• Strain leaves
• Serve straight or with additives like sugar. 

However, it is important to note that there are few variations in the brewing process, depending on the type of tea. 

How to Brew Black Tea

When at the stage of the brewing, make sure you strain the leaves after 2 minutes, if you are willing to drink it straight. If you wish for a stronger cup, or want to add milk and sweetener, it is highly recommended to strain it after 4 minutes. A slice of lemon also helps in accentuating the drinking experience, should you opt to drink it straight.

One important fact to keep in mind is not to put any additive when brewing rare black teas like Regional Tea, Single Estate Tea, and limited-edition seasonal teas.

How to Brew Green Tea

Before adding the boiled water to the pot, make sure you leave it for around 5 minutes, so it cools down to 80°C. This is done so that the delicate tea leaves are not damaged when the water is poured into the pot. It is always best to drink this straight to get the best out of it.

How to Brew Herbal Infusions, Golden Tips, and Silver Tips

Similar to Green Tea, leave the boiled water to cool until it reaches a temperature of around 80°C. Make sure you stir the pot after 1 minute, and leave the herbs/buds for another 2-4 minutes so the brew turns out well. Do keep in mind that it is recommended to drink these beverages straight.

How to Brew Tea using Teabags

Very similar to loose-leaf tea, preparing a cup of tea with teabags are easy:

• Boil fresh spring water to 100°C
• Prepare tea leaves in pot or teacup (one teabag per person)
• Pour boiled water onto tea leaves (200ml per person)
• Close cup or pot to preserve aroma
• Stir after 1 minute so it brews well
• Leave it to brew for another 3-4 minutes
• Remove teabags from pot or cup
• Serve straight or with additives

Keep in mind though that there are slight variations in the brewing process depending on the variant you wish to drink.

How to Brew Black Tea using a Tea Bag

Just like its loose-leaf tea variant, make sure you remove the teabag after 2 minutes, should you wish to drink it straight with a slice of lemon. But, if you wish to drink the beverage with additives such as milk or sweetener, it is recommended that you leave it the teabags for 4 minutes. 

Remember that it is not recommended to serve rare black tea, such as Regional Tea, Single Estate Tea, and limited-edition seasonal teas, with any additives. The reason for this is to make sure that you will be able to experience the unique flavour of the tea. 

How to Brew Green Tea using a Tea Bag

In the case of preparing Green Tea, make sure that you let the boiled water sit for around 5 minutes to let its temperature drop to around 80°C. This is done so that the tea leaves are not burnt when the water is poured into the pot or teacup. This beverage is best served straight without any additives.

How to Brew Herbal Infusions, Golden Tips, and Silver Tips using a Tea Bag

Let the boiled water cool for 80°C before pouring into teacup or pot. Just like the Green Tea variant, this is done so that the herbs and buds are not damaged. Once the water is poured into the pot or teacup, stir it after 1 minute, and let the herbs/buds stay in the water for another 2-4 minutes so that the flavour becomes well spread. Drink straight without any additives.

Important points to consider

• When you do open a fresh pack of Zesta tea store in an airtight container, and avoid storing it in a place where there is direct sunlight and heat
• It is always recommended that you use fresh spring water, and never use re-boiled water for brewing, as it does not allow you to taste the true flavour of the tea.
• Zesta prides itself in producing some of the finest Ceylon Tea in the country, using the methods of old. As a result, it is important that you let the tea steep for at least 3 minutes to extract the full flavour out of the leaves.

If you are that tea connoisseur looking to get the best out of fine Ceylon Tea, follow the guidelines mentioned, and, of course, make the experience even better by choosing products from Zesta to prepare the perfect cup of Ceylon Tea.