Tea brewing - tips for the perfect cup of tea
Brewing a perfect cup of tea may at first sound like a simple project, but often the tea ends up going bad. Especially when it comes to green tea, which can end up bitter if not brewed correctly. But there is no need to worry, as brewing tea “only” requires a little attention to detail. In this guide, we have collected the most important things you need to consider when brewing tea – including water quality, water temperature, water quantity, tea quantity, tea quality and brewing time.
How to brew the perfect cup of tea?
Water quality plays a crucial role in brewing tea. Since water makes up the majority of a cup of tea, it is important to use water without chlorine and with a low mineral content, but not too low, as this can make your tea tasteless. If you have hard water in your tap, which is for example the case in the eastern part of Denmark, you can use a filter or spring water.
Water temperature is also important when brewing tea, as it is necessary to extract the tea's aroma and phytochemicals. The temperature varies depending on the type of tea you are brewing. For example, green tea should be brewed at 70-80°C, white tea at 85-90°C, yellow tea at 70-80°C, oolong tea at 95°C, and black tea at 95-100°C. To determine the temperature of the water, you can observe the bubbles in the water.
The ratio between water and tea is alpha and omega when brewing tea. Use approx. 2 grams of tea to 200 ml of water, not tea leaves, but loose leaves. At Nordic Tea, we have labels on all the bags of loose tea that leave the store. On this label we always write degrees, drawing time and quantity, so don't worry - we're here for you.
Read more about different types of tea here .
What ways can tea be brewed?
There are different brewing methods, including the western method. The western method involves using a lot of water and a little tea, and the tea is left to steep for a longer time. This method is suitable for those who drink large amounts of tea or those who prefer "regular" teas such as Earl Grey, English Breakfast or Darjeeling , which are available in high quality, loose, whole and fresh leaves.
Do you use milk in your tea and possibly sugar, then we recommend the small-leafed and strong teas, so that you can still taste the tea's notes through milk and possibly sugar. If you want the tea to taste strong through larger amounts of milk, we recommend that you try letting your tea steep 1-2 minutes longer than normally recommended.
Enjoy your brewing
By considering variables such as water quality, water temperature, water quantity, tea quantity and quality as well as brewing time, you are now well prepared to brew the perfect cup of tea. Remember that the beauty of tea lies in its versatility, so you are welcome to experiment and find the perfect cup of tea for your taste buds.