Brewing a nice cup of hot tea can be extremely relaxing and meditative even. Not only that, but tea is actually an amazing health drink that comes with a list of health benefits. Green tea, in particular, is easily noted as one of the healthiest drinks, if not the healthiest. This is because it’s rich in antioxidants and also helps with weight loss.
As an age-old drink, you would think that brewing a cup of tea is easy and almost impossible to mess up. But the surprising truth is, brewing tea is actually a rather delicate process. Have you brewed a cup of tea only to find it’s either too bitter or too sweet or outright disgusting? It’s probably because you messed up somewhere along the way. Let’s take a look at eight of the most common mistakes people make when making a cup of tea.
#8 – Using hot boiling water
Did you know that you rarely ever need to brew your tea with boiling water? In fact, most tea variations are better when you use water that is near boiling instead of boiling. Only stronger tea varieties like rooibos and black tea should be brewed with boiling water.
#7 – Using poor quality water
You wouldn’t expect it, but using water of poor quality can truly make a difference in the resulting tea you brew. Rather than using faucet water or unfiltered water, opt for spring or filtered water instead. It’s tastier and healthier and improves the quality of your cup of tea.
#6 – Steeping for too long
Yes, you want to extract as much tea flavor as you possibly can. But you also don’t want to overdo it and end up with an extremely bitter tea. When you keep the tea steeping too long, the tannins are released into the water, causing the bitter taste. Five minutes is enough.
#5 – Using old tea
Just like many other foods and drinks, tea definitely loses its quality over time. Although it technically doesn’t expire, tea leaves lose flavor, color, and overall vibrancy as they age. So if you want a bold and fresh tea experience, it’s best to use your tea early on.
#4 – An improper ratio
Having either too much water or too many tea leaves results in a brew that is either too bitter or barely flavored. To keep your tea tasting just right, make sure to keep the ratio evenly balanced. As a general rule, follow the instructions provided with your particular tea.
#3 – Excessive use of creamer and sugar
Let’s face it––most of us prefer our tea or coffee with some sugar and creamer. In fact, not many people enjoy these drinks straight. However, you might want to be mindful as to not overdo it. When you use too much sugar and creamer, you overpower the tea and its amazing flavor.
#2 – Drinking on an empty stomach
Many people enjoy drinking a warm beverage to start off their mornings. But the truth is, this can actually be quite harsh on your stomach, causing discomfort. If you really have to drink tea in the morning, try drinking a white tea option preferably.
#1 – Microwaving your tea
It might be very convenient to pop your cup in the microwave for a quick cup of tea, but that is a surefire way to ruin the quality of your brew. The intense and sudden heat ruins the tea brew quality. Instead, stick to the old fashion method of heating your water in a pot.
