How to Use Your Tea

Tupelo Honey Teas  wants everyone to experience the true taste of tea.  Most people drink tea in tea bags because it is convenient.

Of those who drink loose leaf, a good majority use kitchy tea balls or tea spoons.  They are cute but the problem with tea spoons and tea balls is that they constrict the leaves to a small area.  Tea tastes best when the leaves are left to move about the water unrestricted.  The more the tea leaves move, the better the flavor and the more vitamins and minerals that will be extracted into your tea.

With that being said, it is important to acknowledge that we do not always have the three to five minutes to wait for the tea to steep before putting the lid onto our To-Go Mug.  In that case, we like Tea Pockets.  Tea Pockets allow you to take your tea with you.  But what we like most about Tea Pockets is the ease of use.  You simply add the amount of tea you would like into the pocket and fold it over like an old time baggie.  The other really great perk to using these pockets, is that you choose how much tea goes in.  For some people a few “dips” of the tea bag is perfect while others think it isn’t strong enough unless your tea stirs the spoon itself.  With the Tea Pockets, you add the tea so it is up to you how strong your cuppa becomes.

Too many people think tea is fussy.  There are proper steep times and temperatures of which you need to be mindful.  The number of teas and types of tea are numerous.  But here at Tupelo Honey Teas, we are not fussy people.  If being fussy was a requirement to enjoying good tea, we would not be in the business.  Therefore, we would like to take the time to explain how to brew the perfect cup.

Here are some go-to rules:

  1. The lighter the tea, the cooler the temperature.
  2. One to two teaspoons per six to eight ounces of water.
  3. Always start with cool water and bring that to the stated temperature.

The preferred method of bringing your water to temperature is with a kettle on the stove, however using a pot on the stove works just as well.  If all you have is a microwave, you will need to play around with your times to see when your water hits the appropriate temperatures.

If you use a kettle or the pot on the stove method, here is for what to look and listen:

White Tea

The kettle starts to make some noise and steam comes out occasionally…OR your pot has bubbles forming on the bottom of the pot and a few have started coming to the surface.
Steep for about three minutes

Green Tea, Green Oolongs, and Sheng Pu-erh Tea

The kettle is making noise and the steam coming out is happening more than the white tea but it is still not coming out in a steady stream… OR the bubbles in your pot are coming to the surface in groups.
Steep for about two to three minutes.

Black Tea, Dark Oolongs, and Shu Pu-erh Tea

The kettle is starting to sing… OR the water is a slow boil.
Steep for three to five minutes

Rooibos

The kettle is singing… OR the water is rolling boil.
Steep for three to five minutes, however you can steep it for up to 20 minutes.  Please note longer steep times can cause the tea to taste medicinal.

Herbals and Berry Teas

The kettle is singing.  Or the water is a rolling boil.  Some teas– if they are thick roots– can actually be boiled in the water for up to twenty minutes to get the fullest flavor.  All other herbals should be steeped for five minutes and can be steeped for up to twenty.  Please note longer steep times can cause the tea to taste medicinal.