(You can see recent tips on brewing on our blog.)
Brewing loose-leaf tea is simple. Remember—the custom of tea drinking was started over a thousand years ago by people who didn't have clocks or thermometers.
Here are the basic steps:
1. Put a teaspoon of loose-leaf tea in a teapot.
2. Boil water, then let it cool for 3 minutes.
3. Pour the hot water into the teapot and wait 3 minutes.
4. Drink. (Careful, it's hot.)
If the tea is too strong, use less tea next time. If it's too weak, use more. It's that simple.
Water Temperature
The other important variable in the tea-brewing equation is water temperature. Boiling water is too hot. Ideally, the water should be a little cooler. But to keep things simple—a fundamental Mellow Monk value—there's nothing wrong with using the wonderfully simple self-regulating temperature mechanism of water: you can't boil it past 100 degrees Celcius.
For cooler water, simply wait a few minutes after the water boils and you turn off the heat.
Teapots, Strainers, and Cups
Use any type of teapot, preferably one with a built-in strainer, such as the teapot shown below.
Or, you can use a tea ball or over-the-cup strainer instead of a teapot.
As for mugs, you can drink your Mellow Monk tea in any type of ceramic cup suitable for a hot beverage. Some people like the look of a handle-less, Japanese-style teacup. Still, for any hot beverage, a coffee mug with a handle is always practical. A light-colored cup allows you to enjoy the visually pleasing green color of the tea. You can even use an Official Mellow Monk® Mug.
The Three Simple Rules
Mellow Monk's Three Simple Rules for Brewing Great Green Tea are, as the name suggests, eminently simple:
- Use the best water possible.
- Walk the kettle to the pot.
- Choose a high-quality, authentic green tea.
For more details about the Three Simple Rules, click here.
Brewing at Home or at the Office
Here are a few example setups for enjoying tea either at home or at the office:
• Setup 1—Cup, tea ball, and electric kettle.
With an electric kettle, you can boil water anywhere you can plug in the kettle. These are available at department stores.
• Setup 2—Cup and tea ball.
Simply use a microwave oven to boil the water in the cup. (The cup can get very hot in a microwave, so handle with care.) Instead of a tea ball, you can also use a permanent tea filter.
• Setup 3—Cup, teapot, and stovetop kettle.
The traditional approach.
