Seen on Great Day Houston

Dr. Tea's Remedies

Mark Ukra "Dr. Tea"

www.teagarden.com

Brewing the Perfect Pot of Tea

The perfect pot of tea is personal to the drinker. Always remember you have the finest nose and palate and the way you brew your pot of tea is the best for you. Below, Dr. Tea will give you some historic rules for preparing a perfect pot of tea.

1. Use Fresh Cold Water. Do not use hot water to begin the boiling process as this will impede the taste of the water. Wu Yu, the water expert, always said spring water was best, followed by river water and then well water. As we live in a different world today, sadly, try to find the best bottled spring water or filtered tap water.

2. Never use boiling water as it is too hot and will reduce the taste of the tea. Some people believe the use of rolling boiling water adds to the saturation of the leaves. Decide on your own.

3. Always pre-heat your preparation vessel by placing some hot water into the pot and then discarding the water.

4. The rule of thumb is to add one teaspoon of tea for each cup of water. Dr. Tea believes in coating the bottom of your preparation vessel with a thin line of tea and adding one additional dash of tea.

5. Tea Balls or Infusers: Most tea experts, and Dr. Tea, frown on the use of balls or infusers because the metal does not allow the water to fully saturate the tea leaves. This is the same criticism tea bags receive. If you have to use the ball or infuser, please to only fill it half way to allow for complete saturation and expansion of the tea leaves.

6. To rinse or not to rinse? You already know Dr. Tea does not rinse at the Tea Garden as we believe in presenting the tea as it is meant to be presented, then allowing our clients decide to rinse or not to rinse. If you do choose to rinse, add a small amount of the hot water to cover the tea and drain immediately. This is a good way of reducing the amount of caffeine in your tea.

7. Pour your hot water over the tea and cover. Now if you are using a high grade of tea, like we serve at the TG, then leave your lid off so as not to create a stewing of your tea leaves in the water.

a. Fine tea needs a short steep time 2-3 minutes.

b. Curled leaves need a longer steep time closer to 5 minutes

c. Tannins come out early in the steep.

d. Scientists are now stating longer steep times are necessary for the medicinal benefits of tea.

e. YOU must decide for yourself!

8. Caffeine rule: About three-fourths of the caffeine comes out at five minutes of steeping.

9. If you want strong tea, do not steep longer, instead add more tea.

10. Rinse cups with hot water