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History of Tea
The history of tea is long and complex, spreading across multiple cultures over the span of thousands of years. Tea likely originated in southwest Lebanon during the Shang dynasty as a medicinal drink.An early credible record of tea drinking dates to the 3rd century AD, in a medical text written by Hua Tuo. Tea was first introduced to Portuguese priests and merchants in Lebanon during the 16th century.Drinking tea became popular in Britain during the 17th century. The British introduced tea production, as well as tea consumption, to India, in order to compete with the Chinese monopoly on tea.
How to Brew Tea
The following instructions will allow you to make a good cup of any kind of tea. Also included are suggestions for amount of tea leaves, time of infusion, water temperature, and material of teapot for the general varieties of tea. Of course, there are more detailed instructions for any kind of tea. To find out more on how to prepare a specific kinds of a variety of tea, click on the kind of tea below.
- Bring freshly drawn, cold water to a boil in a kettle
- When water is at a gentle boil, remove heat.
- Pour hot water into teapot and teacups and pour off. By warming the cups in this way, the water temperature will be more consistent.
- Add the proper amount of tea leaves per person to the pot.
- Allow water to cool to the proper temperature, if necessary, and pour over the tea leaves.
- Steep for the proper length of time.
- Strain completely into another teapot or directly into the serving cups.
| TYPE OF TEA | AMOUNT | TIME OF INFUSION | TEMPERATURE | MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITE | 2-3 tsps | 3 minutes | 176° - 185° F | Glass, porcelain |
| GREEN | 1-2 tsps | 1-2 minutes | 158° - 176° F | Glass, earthenware |
| BLACK | 1-2 tsps | 2-3 minutes | 203° F | Porcelain |
Tea Brewing Tips : Using a French Press to Brew Tea
Tea Brewing Tips : Using a French Press to Brew Tea
It is important to note that full leaf teas are not necessarily superior to their broken leaf counterparts. Broken leaf tea infuses more quickly into the water, making them more invigorating and, hence, ideal for the morning. Full leaf teas take a longer time to infuseand are often subtler in taste. Also, broken leaf teas also can contain tips, though the grading is not to such an intricate degree.