Tea, Tea Knowledge
Tea Brewing: Avoid 9 Common Mistakes, Learn in Just 1 Minute!
With such a long history, tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide, second to water. There are a number of reasons why tea is the first choice for so many, especially when it comes to variety and health benefits. Research has long proven the properties in tea to help prevent diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, Stroke and obesity.
To maximise the flavour and health benefits of your tea, there are some small brewing details that you may be unaware of. So if you have ever doubted the quality of tea leaves due to a lack of enjoyability, it may be as simple as adjusting your brewing technique. Here we will list the 9 most commonly overlooked mistakes when brewing tea, hoping to raise the details of tea brewing to a higher level.
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Top 9 Mistakes in Brewing Tea
1. Using Water That’s Too Hot – Brewing Tea
Do you use boiling water from a tea kettle to brew tea leaves? Water that has just boiled is already beyond the optimal temperature for brewing tea. The excessive heat of the water can make the tea leaves bitter, reducing the sweet aftertaste that tea should have.
Scientific research indicates that water boiling too vigorously can also damage beneficial compounds in tea leaves, such as catechins. For a perfect cup of tea, use water that is just about to boil, with small bubbles forming on the side.
2. Steeping Tea Too Long – Brewing Tea
Like temperature, the steeping time varies for different types of tea. For example, white tea should steep for one to three minutes, green tea is best steeped for three minutes, and black tea is suitable for steeping for three to five minutes.
If tea leaves are steeped for too long, the tea can become overly bitter due to excessive release of tannins. Tannins in tea are similar to compounds in wine, and the steeping time for tea can be controlled based on the desired degree of fermentation.
⚑ Further Reading ⚑
Chinese Tea Culture – Origins of World Tea Varieties
3. Not Steeping Long Enough – Brewing Tea
Tea is quite temperamental! While too much heat can make it bitter, insufficient steeping time will not allow the compounds in the tea leaves to fully release. When steeping tea leaves, the first compounds to be released are those contributing to the tea’s aroma and flavor.
Subsequently, beneficial trace nutrients, mainly tea polyphenols and caffeine, are released. Finally, the heavier trace nutrients and bitter tannins emerge.
So, if the steeping time is too short, you might miss out on these beneficial compounds, and you may not get the desired caffeine! Some may think that brewing tea for a longer time results in a stronger tea, but quite the opposite is true.
The longer the steeping time, the more compounds known as theaflavins, responsible for the color, will seep out and combine with caffeine. However, a darker color does not necessarily mean more caffeine content.
⚑ Further Reading ⚑
Top 5 Decaffeinated Teas! Can Pregnant Women and Children Drink Them?
Brewing Tea, a ritual where hot water and leaves engage in a dance, each unfurling moment a choreography of flavor. In the alchemy of steeping, witness the transformation of leaves into elixirs, a poetic brewing that captures the essence of time in every fragrant drop.
What is Tea Brewing?
4. Lack of Space for Tea Leaves to Expand – Brewing Tea
Flat envelope-style tea bags may be convenient, but they are not the best way to brew tea. Some tea bags contain mainly leftover, broken tea leaves, which have fewer nutrients than whole tea leaves and are more likely to release more tannins, resulting in a bitter taste.
If you don’t have equipment to brew whole leaf tea, it’s okay. When brewing tea bags, use pyramid-shaped tea bags. These tea bags usually have higher quality, are specially designed to allow water to flow more steadily, and provide more space for the tea leaves to expand.
⚑ Read More ⚑
Pyramid Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf: Benefits Compared
5. Not Reusing Tea Bags – Brewing Tea
In fact, some high-quality teas can gain more unique flavors after two to three infusions, flavors that you can’t taste in the first brew. Before drinking tea, it’s good to understand whether each type of tea is suitable for multiple infusions. Also, don’t throw away those old tea bags. Using weak tea for watering plants can make the soil fertile, and old tea bags are also suitable for cleaning greasy pans.
⚑ Read More ⚑
The Steps to Making Tea & Tea Tool Tips
6. Insufficiently High-Quality Water – Brewing Tea
In Taiwan, we almost always use water from water dispensers or boil it before use. If you want to brew good tea, use soft water with low mineral content or filtered water. In countries where tap water is the main water source, using tap water to brew tea may introduce too many minerals, resulting in an off taste. Water that is too hard can give the brewed tea a metallic taste. It is best to filter the water before boiling.
⚑ Read More ⚑
【Tea Ceremony Etiquette】Japan / China / Taiwan
Tea Classroom – Brewing Tea
4. Not Leaving Enough Space for Tea Leaves to Expand – Brewing Tea
Flat, envelope-style tea bags might be convenient, but they are not the best way to brew tea. Some tea bags contain leftover, broken tea leaves, which release more tannins and result in a bitter taste. If you don’t have the tools to brew loose tea leaves, that’s okay. When brewing tea bags, use pyramid-shaped tea bags. These tea bags typically contain higher-quality tea leaves, are designed for better water flow, and provide more space for the tea leaves to expand.
⚑ Read More ⚑
Pyramid Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf: Benefits Compared
5. Not Reusing Tea Bags – Brewing Tea
Surprisingly, some high-quality teas can develop more unique flavors after two or three infusions. These flavors may not be present in the first steeping. Before discarding used tea bags, consider whether the tea is suitable for multiple infusions. Also, don’t throw away those old tea bags; use diluted tea to water plants, as it can enrich the soil. Old tea bags are also suitable for cleaning greasy pans.
⚑ Read More ⚑
The Steps to Making Tea & Tea Tool Tips
6. Using Low-Quality Water – Brewing Tea
In Taiwan, we mostly use water from water dispensers or boil it before use. To brew good tea, use soft water with low mineral content or filtered water. In countries where tap water is commonly used, brewing tea with tap water containing too many minerals and compounds may result in an off taste. Water that is too hard can produce a metallic taste. It’s best to filter the water before boiling.
⚑ Read More ⚑
Tea Ceremony Etiquette: Japan, China, Taiwan
Brewing Tea, a ritual of alchemy where leaves unfold their secrets in hot water, dancing to the rhythm of infusion, releasing not just flavors but the essence of ancient gardens and distant mountains, a sensory journey that transcends time.
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Everyone has some little myths about brewing tea, but this does not affect the passion for tea lovers. From what I have shared with you today, utilise this knowledge so that you can brew tea at home like an expert. ABoxTik uses three-dimensional triangular tea bags, which significantly enhances the tea brew taste and experience. If you are seeking top notch Taiwanese tea, welcome to ABoxTik’s official website!