I love tea. Aside from being delicious, tea is packed with antioxidants, is easy to make, and is known for creating special moments. I have shared tea with countless friends and family members in my home. It is an intimate drink that makes people feel like they are sharing something special at tea time. Even Alice, a girl on a mission, knew the value of drinking tea when she chose to stop for a minute and drink a cup. If you are thinking of hosting a tea party or even just starting to drink tea yourself, you might be a little confused by all the boxes on the shelf. Allow me to offer a few tea tips.
There are several types of tea but the two most popular are black and green tea. All tea comes from the very same plant but the difference comes in how the tea leaves are processed and oxidized. But let’s not get wrapped up in all that. In my opinion black tea is the best, but you will have to figure what you like. Herbal teas are not really tea, but there a a few I enjoy. I made the chart below to aid you in your tea planning. There are no hard and fast rules, but it is my hope this will serve as a good guide. These are all bagged teas but you can also buy loose leaf tea if you are feeling brave. Since this post is for beginners, we will stick to discussing bagged tea. Download the chart here.
Because I always seem to be short on time, I usually make tea one cup at a time by placing a tea bag in a coffee cup, filing it with water, placing it in the microwave, and setting the timer for two minutes. Ideally, I prefer to place the tea bag in a cup, put a kettle on, and then pour the boiling water over the tea bag and let it steep for 2-5 minutes. Either way works, but if you use the microwave, be sure the tea bag does not have metal staples in it (some do).
Once you buy your teas and start to try them, you should decide if you like them best with or without cream and sugar. Taking cream in your tea is a British custom and one that I enjoy. However, never add milk to a tea that has citric acid or any other acidic ingredients because it can curdle.
I hope I have given you enough tea tips to get started. Meanwhile, enjoy these other posts which were inspired by the Alice Through the Looking Glass movie.
Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table
Chai Latte Cupcakes from Bread Booze Bacon
Pocket Watch Pops from Ashlee Marie
Beginner’s Guide to Tea from Celebrating Family
Queen of Hearts Tomato Tart from A Savory Feast
Asparagus Ricotta Puff Pastry Tart from A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies from Feast + West
About Janice
This is such a helpful guide! I never knew that certain teas were better for certain times of day. I used to not be much of a tea drinker, but now that I’m pregnant I’ve been drinking pregnancy tea. Somedays I make a bunch of iced tea and other days I’ll sip it warm. It’s a nice little ritual in my day!
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