Pitfall 1: You are using the wrong type of water.
What is the main ingredient in tea? Well it's not tea which is what you might think. It's actually water! So you need to be very careful about the water that you use. Do you live in a hard water area? Does your water have a higher content of chlorine or fluoride? Because these added minerals will have an effect on the flavour.
To avoid this trap, use filtered water or if you can spring water is also great.
Pitfall 2: Brewing the wrong amount of tea
Using too much tea can cause your brew to be too strong and bitter but not using enough means you risk a weak brew.
What you should do is check your Chinese tea packet where there should be a brewing guide telling you how much tea to use per portion. If not a general rule is 3g of loose tea for a teapot for one.
Pitfall 3: Brewing your tea for the wrong amount of time
Similarly with weight, time is very important because brewing your tea for too long means it could be over brewed and taste too strong or bitter but under brewing could result in a weak and tasteless drink.
To make sure your tea is brewed correctly, use a glass teapot so that you can see the colour of your loose tea as it brews. You do risk getting it wrong a few times but once you know the colour your tea is meant to be when it is at your preferred strength you will be sorted!
Pitfall 4: Your tea tastes like other things
This can happen for a number of reasons. Tea will naturally absorb other smells and flavours so if you have left your loose tea open and next to food or where food is cooked because this can be bad for the tea.
Does your tea taste soapy? This could be because your teapot is made of a porous material that will absorb the soap when it is being washed.
Prevent this by keeping your Chinese tea in an airtight container. Store it in a cool dry place and try to keep it away from sunlight, steam and smelly foods. Either just rinse your teapot out with boiling water instead of using washing up liquid or make sure you purchase a teapot that does not hold smells.
Pitfall 5: Your tea tastes of nothing
If your tea is old and stale it can lose its flavour quite quickly and you end up with a tasteless brew.
Don't let this get you down - make sure you buy fresh tea in small quantities and don't hide it away for special occasions because when that occasion comes you may end up with flavourless drinks instead the special brew you had planned.
Any other tips or tricks I am missing, leave me a comment!
What is the main ingredient in tea? Well it's not tea which is what you might think. It's actually water! So you need to be very careful about the water that you use. Do you live in a hard water area? Does your water have a higher content of chlorine or fluoride? Because these added minerals will have an effect on the flavour.
To avoid this trap, use filtered water or if you can spring water is also great.
Pitfall 2: Brewing the wrong amount of tea
Using too much tea can cause your brew to be too strong and bitter but not using enough means you risk a weak brew.
What you should do is check your Chinese tea packet where there should be a brewing guide telling you how much tea to use per portion. If not a general rule is 3g of loose tea for a teapot for one.
Pitfall 3: Brewing your tea for the wrong amount of time
Similarly with weight, time is very important because brewing your tea for too long means it could be over brewed and taste too strong or bitter but under brewing could result in a weak and tasteless drink.
To make sure your tea is brewed correctly, use a glass teapot so that you can see the colour of your loose tea as it brews. You do risk getting it wrong a few times but once you know the colour your tea is meant to be when it is at your preferred strength you will be sorted!
Pitfall 4: Your tea tastes like other things
This can happen for a number of reasons. Tea will naturally absorb other smells and flavours so if you have left your loose tea open and next to food or where food is cooked because this can be bad for the tea.
Does your tea taste soapy? This could be because your teapot is made of a porous material that will absorb the soap when it is being washed.
Prevent this by keeping your Chinese tea in an airtight container. Store it in a cool dry place and try to keep it away from sunlight, steam and smelly foods. Either just rinse your teapot out with boiling water instead of using washing up liquid or make sure you purchase a teapot that does not hold smells.
Pitfall 5: Your tea tastes of nothing
If your tea is old and stale it can lose its flavour quite quickly and you end up with a tasteless brew.
Don't let this get you down - make sure you buy fresh tea in small quantities and don't hide it away for special occasions because when that occasion comes you may end up with flavourless drinks instead the special brew you had planned.
Any other tips or tricks I am missing, leave me a comment!
For more information on Chinese tea and how to brew it please check out all the green, black, puerh and oolong teas available from LuLin Teas.
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