How to Brew a Pot of Tea

If you don't like tea, perhaps it's because you've only been treated to lukewarm water and a bag of Lipton's. But a proper pot of tea is something to savor - especially when you're feeling parched.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tea Filters
• Bottled Water
• Tea Infusers
• Tea Leaves
• Mesh Tea Balls
• Teacups
• Teakettles
• Teapots
• Teacups

1. Fill a kettle with fresh, cold water, adding enough to make the desired amount of tea, plus some extra to allow for evaporation and to prewarm the teapot.

2. Wait until the water is near boiling, then pour a little into the teapot and swirl it around. This warms the pot so that it is at an optimum temperature for holding the tea. Empty the pot.

3. For each cup of tea, place 1 rounded teaspoon of leaves into the warmed pot. (If your pot has a strainer basket, use that.)

4. Allow the water in the kettle to reach a brisk, rolling boil.

5. Pour the water from the teakettle onto the leaves in the teapot.

6. Let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the leaves. Allow a longer steeping time for larger leaves than for fine leaves.

7. Stir just before serving, then strain the tea into cups. Depending on the tea, you might add sugar, milk, honey or lemon. (Or a combination, but don't use lemon and milk together.)

8. Keep the pot covered with a cozy to keep the tea warm, and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not want to trouble yourself with a strainer, place the tea leaves in a tea infuser, filter or mesh tea ball instead. You can also purchase teapots with removable infusion baskets. You can use tea bags in a teapot, but the quality of tea in bags is never as good as loose tea.
• Put steeped tea into another heated teapot to avoid the bitter taste that can result from sitting on the leaves for a long period of time.
• Green and oolong teas are commonly served without milk, lemon or sweetener.

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on 11/22/2005 For a really mellow taste, try putting the milk in the cup first, then pour in the tea. There's something about the way the milk warms up ...

on 11/22/2005 For fruit-flavored teas, the best additive is sugar. This brings out the fruit flavoring much better. And for most breakfast teas, milk will bring out the body and flavor. Never use milk in a fruit tea, but feel free to use sugar in any.