As you no doubt know, the UpNew Style team loves a good cup of tea. Our in-house artisan tea experts blend our teas with health and well-being in mind using superior botanicals to create nourishing, delicious teas with rich, organic flavors and nuanced tasting notes. But the quality of a tea is best showcased when it is brewed correctly. If you appreciate a fantastic cup of tea, here are some pointers on how to create your dream cuppa’.
Whether you are a big fan of the freshest loose leaf teas, as we are, or you’re reaching for that emergency running-out-the-door teabag to throw in your tea tumbler, there are a number of factors that go into a great tea-sipping experience.
Tea Quality—Old or low quality plants simply don’t have the flavor that fresh, high-quality ones do. This is true whether we’re talking about tea blends or culinary herbs.
Tea Storage—While starting with the freshest botanicals is imperative, how your tea is stored is equally important for preserving both flavor and wellness-supporting compounds. This is why our loose leaf teas go directly into airtight packaging promptly after blending.
Tea Quantity—The amount of tea you should use in a cup varies depending on the type of tea you are brewing. Herbal, red, and rooibos teas are a little “fluffier” and tend to require a bit more tea per cup than green, white, or black teas. This has to do with the relative density of the caffeinated teas as well as their caffeine content. Many tea aficionados say you should use one teaspoon of caffeinated tea to six ounces of water, and one tablespoon of herbal tea to eight ounces of water.
Tea Temperature—Some teas should ideally be brewed at a lower temperature than others to get the best flavor. While black and most herbal teas brew best in water between 180-212°F, more delicate tea leaves can burn at that temperature. However, water that is too cool often won’t properly extract the full flavor or constituents from botanicals. The exception, of course, is if you are wanting to extract mucopolysaccharides from a demulcent herb like marshmallow; heat destroys mucopolysaccharides, so in that case, it’s important to make your tea with room temperature water.
„While black and most herbal teas brew best in water between 180-212°F“
Tea Steep Time—Different teas require different steep times to properly extract the unique, naturally occurring compounds. You’ll often see tea aficionados recommend a shorter steep time for caffeinated teas. This is a way to control the amount of tannins and caffeine that is extracted into the water. Steeping these teas too long can result in an overly bitter cup. Herbal, red, and rooibos teas can often steep much longer without negative affect.
All of this said, how you like your tea is really a matter of personal preference. So, while we suggest starting with the recommended quantities, temperatures, and steep times in In the table below, we always encourage people to experiment in order to customize your brewing experience!
