Hot Tea

	Hot Tea Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea . - author Henry James (1843-1916)
	I dedicate this page to all who understand the joy of a good cup of tea. When we need a time for deep thought, introspection, relaxation, or just a moment of quiet solitude nothing compares with hot tea. It is my morning beverage of choice. I have discovered that how you brew your tea really does make a difference in how it will taste. I used to put a tea bag in a cup of water and shove it in the microwave. Do not do this. It makes a bitter cup of tea. For a proper cup of black tea, the tea bag should be placed in a cup and boiling water poured over it. When the tea reaches the proper strength, remove the bag. Leaving it in will again result in a bitter taste especially towards the end of the cup. Do not over boil, as this will take the oxygen out of the water producing a flat tasting tea. For green tea the water should be just below the boiling point when used. When brewing white tea, the water should be slightly cooler. Experiment with times and temperatures and see what you think works best. Many people preheat their cup and the teapot before brewing. I used to think this was just part of the ritual to prepare the mind to make the experience more enjoyable or special. There is a real reason why some preheat. It is said to prevent the water from cooling too quickly while steeping. Maybe I am depriving myself but I personally have not found preheating to be necessary. Your mileage may vary. Since the experts say not to boil the water in the microwave with or without the tea bag it makes it a little more difficult to enjoy tea at the office. I now use a hot water dispenser. It brings the water to just below boiling which works well enough with the teas I enjoy that I am satisfied with the result. You could do like my son and use a coffee maker. The problem with this for me is once you make a pot of tea it gets cold before you can drink it unless you leave it turned on. If you leave it on, the water evaporates making the tea less than perfect. That is why I heat one cup at a time. It only takes a few seconds. If you are sharing then a pot makes great sense. I prefer to allow my tea to cool after brewing until it is just warm. I think the flavor and aromas are much more defined than in an extremely hot cup.
	Home Loose leaf or bags? Tea Storage Iced Tea Hot Tea Tea Reviews Tea Links Due to spammers stealing my email address, I had to remove a direct link to email me. You will have to type the above address into your mail program to contact me. Sorry it is a hassle but it had to be done. Never post your address online unless you want to receive hundreds of junk spam daily.