A delicious cup of tea can recharge you during the day, or relax you at night. It can chase away the winter chill. But most of us are not aware of the right ways to steep tea that can refresh our mind. Here are some best ways to steep tea so that you can enjoy a perfect cup every time.
At first, you need to steep the tea in hot water to brew. Steeping is a process of extracting the flavor from the tea leaves. Through this process, you can extract the health-promoting compounds from the solids that are using to make tea.
Steeping techniques may vary based on types of tea you are brewing. All types of tea are not the same. You may need to know the variation of tea like true or herbal tea.
True teas come from special kinds of plants that include black, green, and white tea. The flavors, colors, and antioxidants of these teas are not the same. It may differ depending on the oxidizing process of tea leaves before these are dried. True teas are available as loose or in teabags.
However, herbal teas are different from true teas. These are made from the roots, leaves, stems, and flowers of herbs and plants. Herbal tea often uses dried ingredients. But you can prepare herbal tea from fresh ingredients.
The basic steeping technique is the same for both types of tea. You just need to remember that the amounts needed to brew a cup may vary between dried and fresh ingredients. If you want to make herbal tea from fresh ingredients then you have to use it shortly after they are cut to get the best taste. On the other hand, dried tea leaves have a long shelf life. So you can store and use it for a long time.
The quality of water also affects the flavor of the tea. The water high in minerals may impart an off-flavor. You should use fresh, cold, and filtered water while brewing your tea.
Steeping can extracts antioxidants, caffeine, and aromas from tea. You need 5 minutes to brew a good cup of tea from hot water. Whereas cold steeping takes up to 12 hours to produce a smoother tasting tea.
Moreover, a teabag, cup, a kettle of hot water, and a perfect technique are enough to steep a cup of tea full of antioxidants.