Loose-Leaf Tea for the Beginner
Are you tired of the same old tea blends? Do you want to try something new and exciting? Perhaps, you also want a richer and bolder cup of tea? Then this article is for you! If you are reading this, and you’re accustomed to fannings or tea dustings found in grocery stores, the advice presented here will require you dive into the world of loose-leaf tea. By experimenting with premium, whole tea leaves, you will not only find more variety of tea, but you will pleasantly be surprised at the improved flavor. But if you are unsure of how to start, the following tips will provide guidance:
Quality matters: Remember, because loose-leaf tea consists only of the whole tea leaf, the highest grade of tea, it contains more flavor and nutrients. If steeped the proper way, you can craft your ideal cup of tea in every aspect. From the desired level of flavor to the amount of caffeine, there is more personalization with premium tea leaves.
Do your Research: To get started with loose-leaf tea, it is advised to research loose-leaf tea thoroughly. Specifically, it is best to begin with looking at blends you are familiar with in loose-leaf form. If, for example, you want to taste the superior flavor of loose-leaf in a Chai Tea, find a specialty shop that sells it. Not everyone has such a store nearby, so you may have to shop online. By first experimenting with a type of tea you know and love, you will not only taste the difference, but you will be better able to learn about creating your ideal cup of tea.
Use the proper infuser: Once you select your first experimental loose-leaf tea blend, choose an infuser to match it. If you chose a Chai Tea from Joyce Country Cafe for example, the ideal infuser will be of a moderate size. This will allow you room to steep the large cardamon pods. If you choose one that is too small, it will lessen the flavor of the Chai Tea during the steeping process. Your cup of loose-leaf tea is only as good as the infuser being used.
Learn about Tea Steeping: It is crucial to educate yourself on the various ways you can steep your selected blend. More importantly, it is important to find out what works for you. The Chai Tea from Joyce Country Cafe, for example, is a black tea and reaches full flavor when it is steeped from 4-5 minutes at 180 °F to 212°F. If steeped past 5 minutes at 212 °F, it might be too bold, depending on your preference. The goal is to discover your preferences. The author of this article prefers his Chai Tea steeped at 180 °F for no more than 4 minutes for a milder and sweeter taste.
Save Money with Loose-Leaf Tea: As you continue your experiment, remember that depending on the tea blend you choose, you can steep each serving 2-4 times. For the Chai Tea from Joyce Country Cafe, it can be steeped three times, and still retain its flavor. This this means a 2 oz bag of Chai Tea has about 27 servings. If you decide to lower the serving size per steeping, it can last even longer. By contrast, one box of fannings found in grocery stores typically only contains 24 servings, and can only be steeped once before all flavor is lost. While the price tag of $13.00 for a 2 oz bag of loose-leaf tea may be new to you, you are paying for more servings and higher quality.
Explore new types of tea: One distinct advantage loose-leaf tea has over fannings is that there is so much more variety in types of tea. After experimenting with your blend of choice, you can next expand into related types of tea. If Chai Tea is considered a black tea, you might consider a Pu-erh based blend or an Oolong based blend. An aged tea, Pu-erh is sweetener and earthlier, while Oolong’s flavor is akin to both Black and Green tea. The beauty of experimenting with loose-leaf tea is you have the ultimate freedom to create perfection.
Learn about the Science of Loose-Leaf Tea: At this point, you will have had a first-hand introduction to the benefits of loose-leaf tea. Enjoy this time, and continue to embrace your inner mad scientist. Read about why green tea leaves can easily be burnt if steeped at too hot a temperature. Or how you can adjust the level of tannings released into your cup of tea, resulting in more flavor and caffeine. Play around with a variety of types of teas, learn from your mistakes, and embrace your successful creations. It is also of value to ask for insight from other more experienced with loose-leaf tea. You never know what you will learn! While the science of tea can be overwhelming, it can also be fun.
At the end of this experiment, you will have achieved the goal of going beyond tea dustings. You will have learned how to thrive with the highest grade of tea leaf, giving yourself the freedom to create tea blends as unique as you. Having now experienced both worlds, tea dustings and loose-leaf tea, the value of whole tea leaves becomes clear. Only two question remains. How will you embrace your inner mad scientist? And what tea blends will you create?
