Originally from China, tea is today one of the most popular drinks in the world, as much for its delicate aromas as for its benefits for our health. If several legends surround the origin of tea, one of them says that in 2737 BC, Emperor Shennong discovered it by accident when a tea leaf fell into the hot water that he was drinking. Since then, tea culture has spread to Asia, then to the rest of the world thanks to trade routes. If there are different types of tea with very distinct aromas, it is not the plant but rather the processing methods that differ: green tea remains fresh and herbaceous, because it is not oxidized, black tea, , develops its rich flavors through complete oxidation. To fully enjoy your tea, here’s what you should avoid doing.
Using water that is too hot
We probably all have the bad habit of using boiling water to brew tea. However, each type of tea has an ideal brewing temperature and it is certainly not boiling. For green tea, between 70 and 80°C, white tea between 75 and 85°C, black tea can tolerate hotter water, between 85 and 90°C. For accuracy, use a kettle with an adjustable temperature or allow the water to cool a few moments after boiling before pouring.
Steep too long
Steeping tea for too long makes the drink too strong and unpleasantly bitter. So don’t leave your tea bag swimming forever. For green tea, 2 to 3 minutes, for black tea, 3 to 5 minutes and for white and oolong tea, 4 to 7 minutes depending on the desired intensity. If perhaps you thought that steeping your tea longer would make it more concentrated in theine, that is completely wrong. Theine is released as soon as hot water comes into contact with the leaves, usually within the first 30 seconds of infusion.
Wring out your tea bag
Who has never squeezed out the tea bag at the end of the infusion to extract the last drops? However, this habit alters the quality and taste of the infusion. By pressing the bag with a spoon or on the edge of the cup, excess tannins are released, which makes the tea astringent. For better tasting, let the sachet drain naturally or remove it gently without applying pressure.
