A disappointing tea rarely comes from the leaf. It is almost always due to water that is too hot, an infusion that is too long, or an infuser that is too tight. Here is what you need to know to get the best out of it and keep your accessories for a long time.
Dosage
About 2 g per 20 cl of water, or one heaped teaspoon. Herbal infusions and rooibos, which are bulkier, require 2.5 to 3 g.
Prefer water with low mineral content: water that is too hard dulls the aromas and leaves a film on the surface.
Steeping temperatures and times
| Family | Temperature | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| White tea | 70 – 75 °C | 4 to 6 min | Patient steeping |
| Green tea | 70 – 80 °C | 2 to 3 min | Beyond that, bitterness dominates |
| Yellow tea | 75 °C | 3 min | Processing close to green |
| Oolong | 90 °C | 4 to 5 min | Several infusions possible |
| Black tea | 90 – 95 °C | 3 to 5 min | 5 min for a full-bodied black tea |
| Pu'er | 95 °C | 4 to 5 min | Rinse for 10 s, discard the first water |
| Smoked tea | 90 – 95 °C | 3 to 4 min | The smoke flavor intensifies quickly |
| Rooibos | 95 – 100 °C | 5 to 7 min | Caffeine-free, never bitter |
| Herbs | 95 – 100 °C | 5 to 10 min | Cover during steeping |
| Mate | 70 – 80 °C | 5 min | Boiling water makes it harsh |
Without a thermometer. Water simmers around 85 °C and boils at 100 °C. For green or white tea, bring to a boil then let it rest for five minutes with the lid open. Water that is too hot is the most common cause of a disappointing cup.
Storing your tea
Tea is sensitive to light, air, moisture, and odors, much more than time. An opaque and tightly sealed box, stored away from heat and spices, preserves it better than any transparent packaging. Do not wash the box with water: wipe the inside with a dry cloth.
Stored this way, a black tea retains its qualities for about two years, a green or white tea for one to eighteen months.
Caring for your accessories
Cast iron teapot
Rinse with clear hot water, without detergent or abrasive sponge, then dry immediately and leave the lid open until completely dry: residual moisture is its only real enemy. Do not leave tea in the teapot after serving.
No dishwasher, microwave, or stovetop: cast iron retains heat, it does not produce it. Preheat it with a little hot water before steeping, and have a cloth ready, the handle becomes burning hot.
Borosilicate glass teapot
Borosilicate withstands temperature fluctuations, but not sudden shocks: never put boiling water in a teapot that has just come out of the refrigerator. Hand wash in warm soapy water. A rinse with diluted white vinegar will remove the film left by limescale or tannin.
Porcelain infuser
Remove the filter as soon as steeping is finished and place it on the lid upside down, designed for this purpose. Rinse it immediately: dried leaves get stuck in the mesh. The double wall prohibits microwave use. The lid and filter are dishwasher-safe, the infuser is hand-washed.
Infuser
Choose a wide one and only fill it halfway. A narrow infuser compresses the leaves, which cannot unfurl, and deprives you of part of the aroma. Rinse it immediately after use, dry it open.
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