Tea Brewing
Water makes up 99% of your cuppa!
Even though water makes up most of your brew, it is often overlooked. The quality of water you use will affect the taste and look of your cup of tea. Oxygen in the water is pivotal in infusing tea leaves; pulling out their flavour and releasing their scent. The best to use is fresh cold water. If you live in an area with hard water, you may want to consider using a filter or bottled spring water.
Loose leaf or teabags?
In the past decade or so, the main appeal of loose leaf tea has been its noticeable difference in quality and taste. The main appeal of teabags is their convenience. Since their invention in the early 1900s by Thomas Sullivan, they have been seen as the “fast food” version of tea and back then, the quality was certainly lower. In recent years, the quality of some teabags has increased dramatically. This has partly come with the introduction of whole-leaf teabags.
How much tea?
It depends how strong you like it, but about one heaped teaspoon per cup should be enough. If you’re preparing a large pot, an average of one teaspoon per person is generally a good approach.
Strength
Again, it’s all about personal preference, but there are various factors to be aware of. Strength can be determined by both colour and taste. Using a larger amount of tea, raising the temperature of the water and increasing brewing time will likely strengthen the brew. Of course, being mindful of the amount of milk you add will also help you achieve your desired taste.
We offer a huge range of loose leaf teas, whole-leaf teabags, as well as our most popular Lakeland Special teabags available to buy on our website.
You can also find all the tea equipment to explore brewing methods to your heart’s desire, including teapots, strainers and matcha sets.