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/ck/ - Food & Cooking

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3859304 No.3859304[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

Any advice for making tea? I really want to get better at preparing it, and also would like to know some good places to get tea. Also how much sugar/honey to use, what the best method of infusion, types of kettle, etc.

>> No.3859318

Currently using a cast-iron teapot with a bell in it that holds about 2.5 cups. I usually use enough tea for 3 because my teas almost always come out weak, and I steep an extra 15-20% longer for herbal teas and about 10% longer for greens (I really only drink herbal and green). I use local honey with herbals (and leave green teas black), about 1/2 teaspoon for every cup (so around 1 1/2 teaspoons per pot).

How often can I reuse leaves?

>> No.3859324

>>3859304
My favorite tea is the Turkish Tea.

>> No.3859332

>>3859324
I really dislike black tea most of the time, but I'll try anything once. Where do you get it, and what's your favorite brand?

>> No.3859335

Use one teaspoon for every cup of water. That's why it's called a teaspoon. If it's too weak add more.

Black tea should be steeped just under a boil. Other teas have lower temperatures. And higher and you start drawing out too many tannins and the tea will be bitter.

Add as much honey and sugar as you want so that the tea tastes good.

You tea kettle doesn't really matter. It's a tea kettle. All it does it boil water.

Also herbal "teas" aren't really tea.

>> No.3859336

>>3859332
My favorite tea is the Turkish Tea.>>3859332

>> No.3859340

>>3859335
Does temperature matter that much? I use an electric kettle and I've never checked it's temperature.

I know herbal teas don't have any tea leaves. I just figured it would be worth mentioning that it's what I like.

>> No.3859346

>>3859340
>Does temperature matter that much?
Yes.

Too cold and you won't bring out any of the chemicals that make tea taste like tea.

Too high and you get bitter tea.

>> No.3859369

>>3859346
I never get bitter tea and it's always boiling. I'll check anyway but I doubt that's the reason for the weak tea.

Some people mention warming the pot you're brewing in. Does that help? Also, is Teavana any good? It's the only looseleaf I've ever bought and I like it but I hate the staff and it's a hike to get there. Any good places online to get tea?

>> No.3859371

>>3859369
You may not be steeping it long enough.

>> No.3859372

I sometimes use double the normal amount of tea leaves and leave them in for 5 minutes.

I love strong, bitter tea. Feels good.

>> No.3859383

>>3859371
Like I said, I usually go over by 10-20%, depending on the tea. But I try to experiment with how long a certain tea can steep without going bitter. Maybe I just need to stick to 2-3 teas and get a precise recipe for each.
>>3859372
If that's how you take it, good for you. I tend to like tea that is strong but not bitter, though I don't hate overbrewed tea by any means. I just wish my pallet was complex enough to need next to no sugar or honey and be able to enjoy white teas, or lighter green or herbal teas.

>> No.3859389

Thanks for the help though, /ck/. You seem like a nice board.

>> No.3859405

>>3859383
>pallet
wut

>> No.3859412

>>3859405
Holy shit, someone confused homophones. What an idiot!

>> No.3859416

>>3859412
*homofones.

>> No.3859419

>>3859416
*homosexual

>> No.3859640

>>3859369
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApCZ-sUhC2egdGtTVFNjMzFfZzdDUnVVTVgxQ2RxNVE&authkey
=CJLgu5IL&hl=en&authkey=CJLgu5IL#gid=0

A large list of online retailers for loose leaf and bagged.