Author: Maria Alfano
I recall growing up with a pot of tea and several bags of tea brewing on the table being a special event. Mom would take out her porcelain teapot and fill it with hot water to let the tea steep while guests chatted around the table. It was an art back then and it’s still an art today. With all the coffee and donut shops opening up all over the country, it’s really nice to see that we tea drinkers have the option of visiting tea shops today. Getting a cup of tea back in the day at any restaurant amounted to getting a pot of hot water and a Red Rose or Tetley Tea tea bag to put into the pot. Boring does not begin to describe the options for tea lovers.
Today there are many more options that come from all over the world, from the spicy Chai tea from India to the ginger root tea from South East Asia, to the tea latte from California. You name it you can find it in tea options today. The selections are exciting and endless.
You can walk into any supermarket in North America and find fridges filled with sugary tea drinks that are not only bad for you but they have no health benefits whatsoever. Don’t get me wrong I love to chug-a-lug an iced one myself once in a while but I don’t fool myself into thinking that what I just drank was good for me because it’s not a soda. I prefer to make my own iced tea and I have the perfect recipe down below,
Tea Brewing – How To Make The Perfect Cup For Maximum Benefits
You can get a decent cup of tea from store-bought tea bags. But, it is so much more fun, flavorful, and beneficial to use tea leaves. Become a tea mixologist and create your own favorite blend of tea.
In this post, we will talk about some of the best teas for you, their health benefits, and proper tea brewing for maximum results.
Green, Black, White & Oolong Tea
The most recent tea craze has people drinking green tea like it is the elixir from the fountain of youth. It has many health benefits but it is not the only kid on the block you should be thinking about.
Green – the Camellia sinensis plant is giving us another type of tea. The leaves are steamed in Japan to create Japanese green tea while in China they are pan-roasted. There are many studies that have shown green to lower blood pressure and help with cholesterol.
Black – made from the fermented and then dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. This plant is native to parts of Asia. The fermentation process gives black tea a rich dark color and robust flavor. Because it is high in caffeine you should monitor your intake if you suffer from sleepless nights.
Black tea is not only rich in flavonoids that are excellent anti-inflammatories but the tea leaves can also be used on minor scrapes and burns to relieve swelling and pain. If you suffer from minor skin irritations, a bath in black tea could help make you feel better.
White – while white tea comes from the same plant as black tea, this has a much lighter, more delicate flavor since the leaves are not fermented. White tea is rich in fluoride, catechins, and tannins that can be good for your teeth and help fight plaque buildup. Catechins are also helpful in reducing free radicals from your body.
Oolong – while black tea is completely oxidized and green tea has no oxidation, oolong sits somewhere in the middle of the oxidation scale. Oolong is rich in l-theanine which has been shown to be effective with cognitive issues like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas contain their own set of healing properties and depending on your personal situation, one of these could be helpful to you.
Hibiscus – this floral, somewhat sour tea is made from the edible parts of the hibiscus flower. You will know it’s hibiscus from the pretty purple hue. This tea (or tisane) has been shown to have cardiovascular benefits that lower blood pressure.
Chamomile – this tea is very popular in Europe and has made its way around the world. Made from the chamomile flower, this tea is known as a relaxant and can promote good sleep. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Young women drink chamomile tea to help with premenstrual symptoms.
Ginger – if you like things a little spicy, then ginger tea is for you. Ginger has many health benefits. It is effective in reducing nausea, helps with insulin levels in diabetics, and helps with indigestion and constipation. You can buy ginger tea bags, but there is nothing like fresh ginger boiled into a tea beverage. Simply wash, peel and slice about 1 inch of ginger root per cup or tea and boil for 3-5 minutes on the stovetop.
Lemon Balm – aside from its fresh lemon flavor, this tea when consumed regularly over a long period of time ha shown to help reduce the hardening of the arteries. It is a great source of antioxidants, and studies have shown that it can reduce heart palpitations.
To Milk Or Not To Milk…
…that is the question. Milk tends to turn tea more acidic thus making it less effective. The added milk may reduce the healing benefits that you are looking for from the tea brewing process. Instead of reducing inflammation, milk will increase inflammation. Give non-dairy milk like almond or coconut milk a try if you really must have it in your morning cup.
Tea Brewing
Anyone can boil a pot of water and pour it over a tea bag sitting in a cup. Tea brewing is a bit of an art. Yes, you need hot water and a cup but how long you steep the tea will depend on the tea you want to consume.
What You Need
- Hot water
- Tea leaves
- Infuser
- Cup or mug (yup, I said, a mug) – tea is not just for the 4 o’clock high tea party
- Sweetener – optional
How To Brew
- Boil a pot of water to the perfect temperature as noted about
- Add tea leaves to the infuser – more tea leaves means a stronger richer flavor
- Place the infuser in your cup (or mug) – be sure to hook or clip onto the sides properly to avoid burns when removing it
- Add the water to the cup (or mug)
- Steep (let sit between 1-5 minutes depending on the tea)
- Remove the infuser and discard the tea leaves. These make excellent mulch or add them to your compost bin.
- Add your favorite sweetener (or not)
- Enjoy!
In Summary
Drinking a tea beverage can have many healing properties, but you need to make sure that the tea brewing is done the correct way to take advantage of all these benefits. This post provided some tea names, their health benefits, and how to properly steep the perfect cup of tea. We would love to hear about your favorite tea and how you prepare it for yourself and your loved ones. And, oh yeah, milk or no milk? For me, it’s a no and a yes. No milk in most teas. Almond milk in my chai tea.
Next time you say you’re meeting a friend for coffee, make it tea instead!