Tips to enjoy a good tea

The world of tea is complex and exciting, both for the great variety of teas that exist -each one with its peculiarities, virtues and aromas-, and for the respect towards the ritual that exists in the process of its elaboration.

To begin with, I would like to clarify that there are 6 kinds of tea (white, green, black, red or Pu'erh, yellow or yellow, and Oolong or blue tea), all from the same plant, the Camellia. Everything else, despite being hot and in a cup... It's an infusion! Yes, from herbs like mint, to fruits like apples... anything that doesn't come from Camellia cannot be considered tea.

Le Creuset cappuccino cup

Having made the clarification, I think it is interesting to know some of the guidelines dictated by those who are passionate about this tradition.

As an elementary point, we must be clear about the concept that we do not want to burn the tea leaves and therefore we should not add boiling water (although it is usually done in infusions, since you want to ensure that you get all the flavor and rehydrate the fruit). As a guide to prepare a good tea you can take these temperatures:

To prepare white tea: 65–75°C
Green tea: 75–85°C
Black tea: 85–95°C
Oolong tea: 90ºC
Red tea: 95ºC
Infusions: 100°C

Surely you will think that you do not want to depend on a thermometer to drink your tea, but "every teacher has his booklet", they say: when you start to see that smoke (steam) is coming out of the kettle or teapot and it begins to vibrate, you have the water at about 65-75ºC, ideal for white tea; when you observe a lot of vibration and a lot of bubbles (without actually boiling), the water is at the ideal temperature for black tea and Oolong; between one state and the other, you will have the water at the right temperature to make a delicious green tea. If it has started to boil, it means that it has reached 100ºC.

Speaking of water, we cannot forget that this is one of the two raw materials we use to make tea. It is advisable to always use fresh water (not overheated), since every time you heat it, the minerals it contains are concentrated; In the same way, it is interesting to always use the right amount of water to fill the cups that you are going to serve, because less limescale will be generated in the kettle.

The second raw material for making tea is, of course, tea leaves. Perhaps it is not necessary to say it, but the higher the quality, the better results you will obtain. In the Pantry section we incorporate the Kusmi Tea brand, one of the most valued brands in the world when it comes to tea. The quality of the leaves they use and the mixes they have are incredible.

Kusmi Tea individual jars, packs of five Kusmi Tea teas and metal box "The collection"

You can choose some of the best-known varieties of Kusmi Tea in generously sized loose cans (125gr, which is quite a lot if you keep in mind that it is dry leaves), or if you want to delve into the world of teas or try different teas of the brand, I encourage you to see the packs of 5 small-format cans that contain different types of tea: you will find the green tea pack , the ideal tea pack for the afternoon ( Afternoon Tea ) and well-being or Wellness teas. In their descriptions you will discover each of their compositions, surely some will surprise you!

If you are considering discovering the Kusmi Tea brand to surprise a tea lover, the metal box "The Collection" , with 15 different teas, will be a success, due to its variety of teas and the quality of the assortment.

Tokyo Design iron teapot , which includes a filter inside; Le Creuset Tradition kettle

The last element to take into account is the utensil with which you are going to prepare it. You can choose to use a teapot that already contains the filter -the iron ones usually contain it, like all the ones we have from Tokyo Design Studio- , so you will introduce the water and the tea, and you will put it on the fire to heat; Or you can use a kettle to heat the water, then brew the tea in the cup directly. In this case, you will need a metal filter or convenient disposable bags in which you can arrange the tea that you are going to drink.

Infuser, metal tea filter and tea filters in disposable bags

Having seen different important elements in the elaboration of tea, we are now going to review the steps to follow to elaborate it:

1. Put the water that you are going to require in the kettle or in the teapot.

2. In the meantime, prepare the tea filter or disposable bags with one tablespoon of tea per person who is going to drink it.

3. When the water is at the right temperature for the tea you are going to drink, remove it from the heat.

4. Insert the filter into the teapot or pour the water into the cup, depending on whether you use a kettle or a kettle. Leave the tea for 3 minutes , and remove it (the longer you leave it, the more bitter the tea will be... but some people prefer it that way, you should find the ideal time for your taste).

5. If you have used tea bags , never squeeze them with the spoon on the side of the cup, or you will release the natural tannins that the leaves have; if you simply remove it from the cup, you won't make it more bitter.

6. If you have prepared tea to serve several cups , first have a little tea in each one, and then finish filling them, so you will ensure that all the cups have the same quality of tea.

Drinking tea is for some a good solution when we want to get rid of the cold; for others, a good morning custom or a great way to end a meal... Whatever the time of day, or regardless of the excuse that invites you to take it, I encourage you to prepare it with care and enjoy every sip, because it is quite an experience. Really rewarding and comforting.