How to prepare the tea
For hot tea, true aficionados prefer a ceramic teapot that has been gently heated with hot water before the addition of the tea. Use a teapot with a built-in strainer, or have a tea strainer on hand. Tea balls can be problematic, as tea leaves expand when they make contact with water, and all of the flavor may not be released. Gourmet teas are rarely sold in bags, so be prepared!
Steep the tea in water that has almost, but not quite reached the boiling point. Boiling water will cook the fine tea leaves, and compromise their flavor. It also makes sense that the better water you use the better pot of tea you will enjoy. The finest tea in the world will not disguise the scent of chlorinated water!
It is important that you pay attention to the taste, rather than the color, of the tea when you are brewing it. Steep the tea for a couple of minutes, and then give it a taste. You can continue to steep the tea, or in the case of some of the more delicate teas, give it another infusion.
Many people, particularly those in Southern hot climates, prefer to drink iced tea. It is important to prepare it with care, in order to prevent clouding. Teas with a high acid content can cloud cool water by changing the pH level. To remedy this problem, simply add some orange, lemon or lime slices to the pitcher of tea.
Enjoy the process! It is not for nothing that for centuries, across many cultures, tea-time has been a favorite part of peoples’ day.
