Tips to enjoy a good tea

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

To start, I would like to clarify that there are 6 types of tea (white, green, black, red or Pu'erh, yellow or yellow tea and Oolong or blue tea), all of which come from the same plant, the Camellia. Everything else, even if it is hot and in a cup... is an infusion! Yes, from herbs like mint to fruits like apple... anything that does not come from the Camellia cannot be considered tea.

Le Creuset cappuccino cup

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

As a basic point, we must be clear about the concept that we do not want to burn the tea leaves and therefore we should not pour boiling water on them (although this is often done in infusions, since you want to ensure that all the flavour is extracted and the fruit is rehydrated). 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

You might think that you don't want to rely on a thermometer for your tea, but "every master has his own way," they say: when you start to see smoke (steam) coming out of the kettle or teapot and it starts to vibrate, your water is at about 65-75ºC, ideal for white tea; when you see a lot of vibration and lots of bubbles (without reaching boiling point), your water is at the ideal temperature for black tea and Oolong; between one state and the other, your water is at the right temperature to make a delicious green tea. If it has started to boil, 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 reheated), since each 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 you are going to serve, because less lime will be generated in the teapot.

The second raw material for making tea is, of course, tea leaves. Perhaps it goes without saying, but the higher the quality, the better the results. In the Pantry section we have included 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 blends they have available are incredible.

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

You can choose some of the most popular varieties of Kusmi Tea in generously sized loose cans (125g, which is quite a lot if you keep in mind that they are dried leaves), or if you want to delve into the world of teas or try different teas from the brand, I encourage you to look at the packs of 5 small cans containing different types of tea: you will find the green tea pack , the pack of ideal afternoon teas ( Afternoon Tea ) and the wellness teas. In their descriptions you will discover each of their compositions, I am sure that some will surprise you!

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

Tokyo Design cast iron teapot , including a filter inside; Le Creuset Tradition kettle

The last element to consider is the utensil you are going to use to prepare it. You can choose to use a teapot that already has a filter - iron ones usually do, like all the ones we have from Tokyo Design Studio - so you will put the water and tea in it and put it on the stove to heat up; or you can use a kettle to heat up the water, and then prepare the tea directly in the cup. In this case, you will need a metal filter or the convenient disposable tea bags in which you can place the tea you are going to drink.

Infuser, metal tea filter and tea filters in disposable bags

Having seen the various important elements in the preparation of tea, we will now review the steps to follow to prepare it:

1. Put the water you need into the kettle or teapot.

2. Meanwhile, prepare the tea filter or disposable bags with a spoonful of tea for each person who will 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. Put the filter in the teapot or pour the water into the cup, depending on whether you use a kettle or a teapot. Let the tea brew for 3 minutes , and remove it (the longer you leave it, the more bitter the tea will be... but some people prefer it this way, so you'll have to find the ideal time for your taste).

5. If you have used tea bags , never press them with a spoon on the side of the cup, or you will release the natural tannins that the leaves have; if you simply remove the tea bags from the cup, they will not make the tea bitter.

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

For some, drinking tea is a good solution when we want to get rid of the cold; for others, it's a good morning habit or a great way to end a meal... Whatever the time of day, or whatever the excuse that invites you to drink it, I encourage you to prepare it with love and enjoy every sip, because it's quite an experience. Truly rewarding and comforting.