Steeping the Perfect Cup of Tea
Tea time is always the highlight of our day, and we eagerly count down the hours until it arrives! Then we put the water to boil, and maybe call a friend over. Talk for a while, engage in conversation, or try to find something to do, because it feels like an eternity before the water starts rolling to a boil. Then it’s time to infuse the tea leaves by passing hot water through them, and watch them slowly bloom, colouring the infusion and filling the room with heady, fragrant scents. Perfect! Pour it into a cup, maybe two. Sit on our favourite chair, take that first sip. Feel the noisy world quieten for a few seconds, offering a moment of tranquillity and peace. Thus, making a cup of tea is a ritual and an experience worth cherishing.

Tea Brewing Methods
“When tea making becomes a ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things.” Brewing tea and enjoying it has very little to do with instructions; it is an art perfected with time and with throwing your heart into it. But some directions could get you there faster. Here, we give you a basic technique for brewing tea. And a few pointers to ensure you get the best out of every cup.

The Classic Infusion
This is the most popular method, marking the birth of tea preparation itself. This simple infusion works well for all teas. You can control the temperature and steeping time, so the tea will be of the strength you desire. Here is how you go about it.

• •   As a thumb rule, use one teaspoon or 2 grams for every cup (200ml/7oz) you’re making. Leafier tisanes like Mint and Chamomile, or teas with larger leaves like Green tea or Oolong could use an extra teaspoon.
• •   Tea bag teas are usually one per cup (200ml/7oz) of tea, though you can always double up when you want it stronger!
• •   Always use fresh cold water. Never use water from the hot water tap. Let the tap water run for a few seconds until it is quite cold, as this ensures the water is aerated (oxygenated), releasing the full flavour of the tea leaves.
• •   Try not to let your water reach a rolling boil, as that will release oxygen and result in a flat-tasting cup of tea.
• •   If brewing with loose-leaf tea, there are several different types of infusers available; sometimes, you’ll need to experiment a little until you find the perfect one for you.
• •   Many teas are good for a second and even third steeping. Multiple steepings can bring out more subtle flavours and notes. Green tea, Oolong tea, White tea and Pu-erh tea fall into this category. Give it a shot — you might end up liking the second infusion better than the first!

Step 1: Heat water to the desired temperature. Ensure the water isn’t boiling, as very high temperatures can easily destroy the delicate notes in the tea. Place the tea leaves in an infuser.

Step 2: Pour the hot water over the tea leaves until they are submerged.

Step 3: Let it steep for the recommended time. Take care not to over-steep.

Step 4: Remove the tea leaves. Pour into a cup and enjoy.

After this point, you can sweeten your tea with sugar, cream or honey or add a dash of lemon juice or mint for that extra flavour. But, being the purists that we are, recommend you drink it plain. If not always, try it plain once; you'll be surprised how many layers there are to a cup of tea.

The Cold Brew Infusion
This method works excellently for Iced tea. There’s no heat involved, and the liquor produced is extremely strong. A variety of ingredients can be added later, such as fresh fruit or fruit juice, to enhance the tea's flavour. But do remember, sugar never completely dissolves in Iced tea, so honey works better. Freshly prepared Iced tea has twenty times the antioxidants as its bottled counterparts.

Step 1: Drop loose tea leaves in a tall jar. Add an extra teaspoon more than the recommended quantity. (Use 6 teaspoons of tea leaves for 1 litre of water)

Step 2: Fill it with water. Cover the jar and leave it overnight (At least 8 hours). And if you leave it in the refrigerator, you can skip ice cubes and serve it straight.

Step 3: Strain the tea to remove leaves.

Step 4: Dilute it to the desired strength. If you are adding honey, now is a good time.

Step 5: And this is the point where you can go crazy with your creativity. Add fresh-cut fruit or citrus juices, such as lemon or orange, to make great mocktails. Garnish with pineapple discs, lemon rinds, or sprigs of mint, so it looks as good as it tastes.

Step 6: Serve with lots of ice.

The sweetened tea tastes amazing even without all the garnishing. So, if you aren’t feeling up to it, add some ice and honey and swig it. It will be just as refreshing.

Tea Leaf versus Tea Bags
At “HighTea”, all the virtues of tea leaves can be fully expressed, but one is quite clear: whole tea leaves retain their natural oils, yielding a more flavorful, full-bodied tea! However, we also offer tea bags as a convenient, additional option for our customers.

It is essential to note that the contents of our tea bags consist of actual tea leaves, specifically cut-to-fit fannings, rather than tea remnants or dust. We meticulously source only the finest tea fannings for our tea bags. When tea leaves are cut to the appropriate size for tea bags, the resulting brew is fuller and more nuanced than that from other tea bags.

Thus, whether you enjoy leaf tea or tea bags from “HighTea”, you will receive the same great taste and health benefits, as we source only the best seasonal teas for our customers!

What is the Best Method for Storing Tea?
Proper storage has everything to do with the flavour and delight that tea offers. Oxygen, moisture, and smells are all enemies of the delicate subtlety of tea. Fine tea is especially fragile and can be easily ruined by such elements. It is important to store tea in airtight containers, preferably metal, to protect from exposure to light, humidity and high temperatures. Our “Signature Tea Caddies” are ideal for Tea storage. Therefore, please do not store tea in the refrigerator or freezer.