Freshly Brewed Tea Recipes

FRESHLY BREWED TEA

Steps:

• Whether you use loose tea or tea bags, the preparation method is the same. Start with a spotlessly clean teapot made of glass, china or earthenware. Add rapidly boiling water, and allow to stand a few minutes to "hot the pot". Pour out just before before brewing the tea.
• Heat cold water to a full rolling boil. (use water from the cold-water tap; water from the hot-water tap may contain mineral deposits from water pipes that can affect the flavor of the tea.)
• Add tea to the warm pot, allowing 1 teaspoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag for each cup tea. Pour boiling water over tea (3/4 cup for each cup of tea); let stand 3 to 5 minutes to bring out the full flavor. Stir tea once to ensure uniform strength. Do not judge the strength of tea by its color; you must taste it. Strain the tea, or remove tea bags. Serve wtih sugar and milk or lemon if desired.

PERFECT ICED TEA

Steps:

• Hot-Brewed:
• Bring 8 cups water to a simmer; remove from the heat and add 3 tablespoons loose tea or 6 tea bags. Let steep about 4 minutes, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags. Let cool, then transfer to a pitcher, cover and refrigerate.
• Cold-Brewed:
• Combine 8 cups cold water and 6 tablespoons loose tea or 10 tea bags in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 36 hours, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags.
• Sweet Teas:
• Combine 3/4 cup each sugar and water in a saucepan and add 1 infuser, if desired. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the infused syrup through a fine-mesh sieve (you'll get about 1 cup).
• Orange Add 6 strips zest
• Blackberries 1 cup
• Cinnamon 2 sticks
• Lavender 3 tablespoons dried
• Vanilla 1 halved bean
• Mint 3 sprigs
• Ginger 1 cup sliced
• Lemon 8 strips zest
• Nectarine 1 cup chopped
• Cucumber 2 cups chopped