Making Loose-leaf Tea Entirely Too Simple

By Naomi Rosen, Proprietor of Joy’s Teaspoon

Joy’s Teaspoon receives questions daily about our products.  There are three, however, that we receive more often than not.  Below is an email received from a curious client:

“What is the best way to brew iced tea?  How do you brew a single cup (bag, brew basket, special contraption)?   Is it true that if you don’t use it you lose it?”

While I cannot attest to the final question, the first two I can most definitely be of assistance with!

Loose-leaf tea is just as easy to brew as the bagged stuff you find at the grocery store.  You heat water, you steep the tea in water, you drink it.  I promise you it’s that simple.  In fact, loose-leaf teas come in so many varieties and blends that you will likely have a harder time choosing a favorite than brewing the tea!

Let’s talk equipment!  Listed below is what you will need to make a wonderfully warm cup of tea, pot of tea, or an entire pitcher of iced tea:

• Teapot (for heating the water)

• Loose-leaf tea (preferably of the Joy’s Teaspoon variety)

• Infuser (Don’t let this scare you.  It’s a basket, a ball or a bag that you put the loose-leaf tea in.)

When you receive your tea from Joy’s Teaspoon, on the back of your tin will be three (3) things:

• Amount of tea in a serving

• Steeping Temperature

• Steeping Time

Single Cup

Simply measure out the tea into whatever you have chosen to brew or steep.  Put the heat on your teapot.  For some, just letting it boil is good enough.  But for those that would prefer the “perfect” cup of tea, a candy thermometer can be used to measure the temperature of your water.  Most teas are brewed at just before boiling, OR, the water is allowed to boil and then cool back down for a few minutes.  Whatever your choice, pour the hot water over the tea and allow it to steep for the amount of time specified on the packaging.  In the case of black and green teas, you will want to remove the tea leaves from the cup once it is steeped.  Leaving them in will produce a very bitter taste in your tea.  On the upside, those tea leaves can be steeped again!  Just increase the steeping time by a few minutes.

An Entire Pot

You need to brew an entire teapot instead of a cup!  “Stop the train,” you say!  Deep breathes and simply increase the amount of tea.  Everything else will stay the same.

I’m melting…I need ice!

Iced tea is a simple one as well.  There are two very simple brewing methods: hot brewing and cold brewing.

• Hot Brewing – For hot brewing, you will measure out the proper amount of tea, place the infuser in your pitcher, and pour an entire teapot of hot water on it (4-6 cups of water).  Once the tea has steeped, remove the infuser and add ice until chilled to desired temperature.

• Cold Brewing – If time permits, you can simply put the tea in the infuser, drop it into the pitcher and fill with water.  Let the pitcher sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight and you get cold brewed iced tea!

Everyone takes their tea differently.  I’m a naturalist and love the tea completely naked.  However, pick you poison and try lemon, milk, sugar, etc. until you have your own perfect cup.  The whole point is to enJOY the tea!

Be sure to enter Joy’s Teaspoon’s Green Giveaway at HipMomsGoGreen this week!

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