10 Tips for Making a Good Tea Even Better

If you are not necessarily a tea drinker, hopefully this information will turn you into a tea lover! For thousands of years, tea has helped us seize the day ahead.  Those who appreciate it know that its benefits go far beyond being a refreshment.

• They contain antioxidants that are capable of slowing down cell degeneration by curbing free radicals.
• Teas such as holy basil or tulsi tea have been used for centuries by Ayurvedic and yoga practitioners to boost the immune system after a severe illness.
• Herbal blend teas have no caffeine while some teas have less caffeine than coffee.
• Tea may reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack.
• Increasing your good tea consumption may help battle cancer.
• Drinking green tea may help boost weight loss and even prevent bone loss.
• Tea changes the PH in your mouth and consequently, it can prevent cavities and tooth loss.
• Herbal teas like chamomile and ginger can help soothe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and calm nausea respectively.

Being less in calorie, tea provides a variety of options in terms of versatility and flavour, which one can enjoy either hot or cold but it needs time to unlock its flavour. So how do you make any cup of regular tea even better? Tea can be brewed in a pot or mug and can be customised with anything from milk, cream, lemon, sugar, honey or cinnamon to make it unique to your palate. So here are ten tips to consider:

1. While incredibly convenient, you will be compromising on quality and flavour by using tea bags.
2. Spend a little and buy full-flavoured loose leaves, preferably at a specialty store that will give a tea taste test before you buy.
3. Buying the best tea-ware will make brewing tea easier, better, or more fun!
4. Some teas are delicate while others require fully boiling water. Therefore, watch your water temperature is accurate to your tea choice.
5. Experiment with different fragrant tea spice like green cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, ginger or even black peppercorns.
6. Vary the steeping time between different teas. Black and white tea should take 2 minutes while some herbal teas will take up to 6 minutes. Varying your steeping time also matters because too long in hot water might increase the caffeine content in your tea.
7. If you must use additives in your tea, experiment with aromatic and flavourful options such as honey, lemon, peppermint, or berries.
8. Turn your tea into a flavourful sorbet!
9. Experiment with coconut or almond milk to make your tea creamy.
10. Find your signature blend using different ingredients that you can enjoy every day.

 

If you are looking to expand your palate, some may find tea an acquired taste. There are indisputable health reasons to switch to tea though. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to be adventurous and sample as many blends as possible until you find the flavour or variety that best suits you. What’s your flavour?