You can buy the world's most expensive tea, but if you don't brew it right, it is of no use. Yes, very often you hear 'I bought exotic tea from my holiday abroad', it turns out that you didn't know how to brew the exotic tea and blamed the tea store for selling you bad tea. Here we will take you through 5 common mistakes people usually make while brewing tea. And not just that, we will tell you how to avoid these mistakes so that you can brew the perfect cup of tea.
Here Are 5 Common Mistakes We Must Avoid While Making A Cup Of Tea:
Storage
Always store your tea in an airtight container, preferably in a pouch which is placed inside a metal container. Don't empty the tea leaves into a glass jar or a metal box directly and keep it away from heat and direct sunlight. As a thumb rule, don't store your tea in the same cupboard as your spices, it will absorb the most potent smell, and when you brew it next, it will have that flavour. So please keep it away from spices and heat.
Water
It is the elixir of life, and it is the base for your tea. Always use fresh water to make your tea, don't use boiled water. If you are living in a city where the drinking water is heavily chlorinated, then use bottled water to make your tea. It is safe to use water from your water purifier. Treated water is void of natural oxygen and will never result in a good cup of tea. So, make sure that the water has a good clean taste.
Also Read: 7 Interesting Tea Traditions From Around the World
Over boiling the water
By far the most critical part in the tea making process, heating your water to the right temperature will ensure that you extract the natural flavours from the tea leaves. If you are using a gas stove to make your tea, use a stainless-steel pan, don't use an aluminium pan for heating the water as it reacts with water. If you have an electric kettle, use it to boil the water. Don't let the water unattended as there is every chance that it will get over-boiled; when this happens, the oxygen in the water disappears.
Avoid cooking the tea leaves
Every often in Indian households, I have seen that they put water to boil on the gas stove and add tea leaves, milk and sugar to the cold water and let it boil. It will cook the tea resulting in a strong bitter brew. If you are making tea on a gas stove, bring the water to near boiling point and turn it off, add the tea leaves and cover the pan. Let it brew to the desired strength and then serve.
Also Read: Tea Leaves Or Tea Bags: Which One's A Healthier Option?
Adding milk and sugar
This is a matter of debate and has been a topic of discussion from the Buckingham Palace to the White House. Some suggest you add cold milk to the cup before you pour the tea into the cup. Others believe that you can add a dash of milk to the black tea. Don't pour hot milk as the fat/cream comes on top and you will see oil rings in your cup of tea. Having tea without milk and sugar is healthier - you will not only save on calories but will also get to experience the real flavour of the tea.
The next time you are brewing a cup of tea, avoid making these mistakes and enjoy the tea you bought.
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