How to make the perfect cup of tea

I'm sure you've all got your secrets and preferences when it comes to making the perfect cup of tea and this isn't an article trying to insult the way you make your tea (even if you put the milk in first). Instead, think of it as us giving tips, I mean why else are we called EBTeaTips?

You may not be aware of this but each type of tea requires a specific time to brew in order for its flavours to infuse perfectly.

White, Yellow and Green Tea

White, yellow and green tea all require 1-2 minutes, this is due to the delicacy of the teas. It is a known fact that leaving a tea bag in for a longer period of time creates a more intense taste, however this bitterness is not wanted for these teas and is certainly not what I would consider a nice cup of tea. Leaving the tea bag in can leave your mouth feeling dry and unpleasant, so I recommend you don't leave the teabag in for too long!

Green tea is very delicate and leaving the teabag in too long is nothing uncommon as many people have experienced the notorious bitterness that the tea can possess. However, it is not unusual to keep the tea bag/leaves in as many restaurants tend to do so.

White tea lacks the bitterness that many other teas have, so I guess it's best not to push it right? Its soft, delicate flavours only require a short brewing time, which allows its unique and fragrant taste to infuse fully.

Black and Oolong Tea

2-3 minutes doesn't sound like a long time when it comes to brewing tea, and we often leave our tea bags in to let the flavour develop as we drink! However, research has told us that Oolong tea and black tea should be only steeped for 2-3 minutes at the most! So, for your interest, we did some research into why this might be: Black tea is composed of very small particles of tea, and is designed to be made quickly. Because it is a well known and consumed tea, the leaves and bags have been optimised to brew faster than most teas! The larger amount of smaller leaves creates a wider surface area, meaning the flavour infuses much quicker. As well as this, the bags allow the tea to spread better than most, meaning the water passes through and infuses much more efficiently. As for Oolong tea, it has a very delicate flavour that can become over powering or lost if not brewed correctly. 2-3 minutes is the perfect time to let the water infuse with the beautiful fragrance, but also keep the light and fragile flavour when you drink it. Too much longer and the flavour will be lost or the tea will not be to your taste.



Herbal Tea 

Herbal tea needs the longest time to brew- 3-6 minutes! Due to the uniqueness of herbal teas, the time to brew them varies. For example, the flower herbal teas, such as rose and chamomile, need 5-6 minutes as they are known to become rather bitter and pungent when brewed for too long. Leaves, on the other hand, need a little long as they are able to maintain their flavour for a longer period of time, therefore it is recommend 6 minutes.

I'm sure that many of you won't agree to these timings, which is perfectly fine because the enjoyment of tea comes from trying new ways and striving for that perfect cup of tea. But I do recommend you try these timing and let us know your thoughts on how to make your perfect cup.