How to Brew Hot Tea

Black tea with a few flowers added.

While it appears that tea originated in Asia, the practice of drinking tea has now spread to every corner of the world. Different types of tea are brewed differently in order to preserve their best flavors, so for the purpose of this article, the process for brewing hot black tea will be covered.

Things You'll Need

• Black tea bags or leaves A tea infuser (if you have leaves) A teapot Teacups

Instructions

1. Place one tea bag or a tea infuser with a teaspoon of black tea leaves into your pot for every 8 oz cup of tea that you want to make.

2. Bring cold water to the boiling point. For the active substances in black tea to adequately develop, the water must be at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Pour the boiling water into your teapot.

4. Brew your black tea for four minutes. Black tea should never be brewed for less than 30 seconds or longer than five minutes.

5. Remove the tea bags or tea infuser.

6. Pour your black tea into cups.

Tips & Warnings

• Use spring water instead of tap water for tea, because tap water has chemicals in it that can alter the taste of your black tea. Add lemon, sugar, honey or milk to add to the flavor. Some experts suggest putting a bit of boiling water into the pot and swirling it around before tossing it. This is to warm the teapot in preparation for brewing your tea.

• Brewing black tea longer than five minutes will make it bitter. Don't use water that has been previously boiled or re-heated, as the oxygen levels are lower and black tea needs oxygen to properly release the flavors of your black tea.

Resources

• Imperial Tea Garden
• The Tea Emporium
• Organic Black Tea