How to make tea

I grew up drinking tea so I naturally assumed everybody knew how to make tea. Not so, I recently found out. I brought a newly discovered tea (Tarakona's Matariki) as a house warming gift to my friend's house.

And as she excitedly unboxed and revealed the beautiful jar, she asked me, "So how do I make tea?" Gasp.....how did I not know about this floating ignorance till now?

We need to consider these variables when we make tea:

Of the tea quality
How much tea do I use?
Temperature of the water
Brewing times
The quality and type of teapot

So here goes....I humbly reveal several ways I know how to make, or more correctly, brew tea.

Quick and easy

Put a teaspoon of tea or a teabag in a cup. Boil water. Pour into cup. You've made tea. Add ice for iced tea. Add lemon for lemon tea. Add mint for mint tea.

We're not savages!

Unearth antique tea set from the box Grandma left you. It's time to honour her and make tea like Grandma did so let's go out and get some of the really good loose leaf tea. Don't forget milk and sugar if that's how you like it (I personally don't but feel free to add whatever you like, it's your tea). Now add 1 teaspoon of tea leaves for each person and an extra for the pot. Let brew for 2-3 minutes.

Bring out tea strainer and pour gently into each cup. Add milk and a healthy helping of sugar if desired, stir and lay teaspoon on the saucer next to the cup. Now sip (don't slurp) and remember, little pinky up! Just kidding. Never should the pinky be raised. In fact, it is considered rude to stick out the pinky, in addition to looking ridiculous. The practice originated from those wishing to elevate their status, however, it is ultimately taken as a symbol of elitism. In social settings, lifting the pinky will surely identify you as unsophisticated rather than what you intended it to mean.

Gong Fu Cha

The Chinese have drunk tea for thousands of years and the modern Gong Fu art of tea-making is essentially about controlling all the variables of tea-making with a high degree of precision and consistency.

This approach to tea-making with an attention to detail and savouring every drop is different from western notions, but as an art that has been perfected over many hundreds of years, the result is a tea that tastes better than you’ve ever tasted. The first thing we notice is that the teacups are very small. The second thing we notice is that we don't drink the initial brew.....huh, really? Yup, the tea leaves are lightly rinsed and awakened before the first drinking brew. Take a look at this video to see how Gong Fu Cha is made.

Instructions:

Bring freshly drawn, cold water to a boil in a kettle.
When water is at a gentle boil, remove from heat.
Pour hot water into teapot and teacups and pour away. By warming the cups in this way, the water temperature will be more consistent.
Add the proper amount of tea leaves per person to the pot.
Allow water to cool to the proper temperature, if necessary, and pour over the tea leaves.
Pour away this initial flash infusion. This step is to wash the tea leaves and awaken the leaves to release their flavour.
Steep for the proper length of time depending on type of tea.
Strain completely into another teapot or through a strainer into serving cups.
Adjust thereafter by adding an extra minute or so to subsequent brews or according to taste.

Japanese Tea

The Japanese tea ceremony is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha (抹茶), powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called chanoyu. In Japanese culture, matcha green tea is much more than a drink. The matcha tea ceremony has been an integral part of the traditional Japanese culture for centuries. A quiet celebration performed with grace and beauty, the matcha tea ritual is a bonding experience of mindfulness, respect and a focus on the now.

I could give you a step by step guide but it might be easier if you watched a video of a simple way to make Japanese tea.

So there you go, 4 different ways to make good tea. Of course there are a multitude of variations and you can go crazy with what you can add to make interesting tea, tea cocktails, tea jelly, tea pudding, etc....trust me I've tried. But what's most important is that tea is made for every occasion and made for enjoyment, so go ahead and make your tea and enjoy!

Be sure to check out Tarakona's tea recipes.....such a good resource for tea ideas.