How do you use a traditional tea set?

Step 1 - Heat water

Heat water to exact temperature to preheat teapot. We would recommend using low mineral, low chemical, spring or glacier-fed water.

 

To find the full water temperature instructions please refer to our Steeping Chart.

Heat the water by boiling it. Please do not microwave it, no matter what your Great Aunt Josephine says, as it results in unevenly hot water.

 

Take care not to over-boil or re-boil your water, which results in stale-tasting tea from an imbalance of elements in the water. Water temperature also has a profound impact on infusion quality; for example, unfermented (green) teas can be easily bruised by overly hot water which extracts too many tannic acids, rendering a bitter palate.

 

Step 2 - Add tea to teapot

USE 1 TSP OF TEA LEAVES PER 1 CUP OF WATER.Using an external strainer is the most effective method for herbals, which should steep for five minutes or longer. You can leave your herbal infusions to steep as you wish, and avoid loose leaves and botanicals in your cup when you pour. If you're making black, green, oolong or white tea, make sure not to over steep your tea by serving the tea following the recommended steep time.

 

Many teapots can be outfitted with an infuser which fits nicely inside your teapot. When using an internal infuser, ensure that you follow the steeping times recommended for the tea you’ve selected, to avoid over-steeping.

 

Tea-to-go filters offer a convenient option for blends such as chamomile and rooibos, which feature fine botanicals that can be more difficult to clean from other types of infusers.

 

You can use any of your favorite teabags in a teapot which allows for easy removal.

 

Store tea and herbs in a cool, dark, and dry (low humidity) place. Proper storage of tea lowers the deterioration rate of the fragile essential oils – hot, humid conditions with exposure to UV destroys tea. Once opened, we recommend consuming the tea within the year.

 

Step 3 - Steep precisely

POUR HOT WATER OVER LEAVES AND STEEP PER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.

To find the detailed steeping instructions please refer to our Steeping Chart.

Following the steeping instructions for the different tea types will yield the difference between a proper balance of flavors, as our blenders intend, and incorrect emphasis on certain flavor profiles of different ingredients.

 

Step 4 - Remove leaves from teapot

REMOVE THE LEAVES AND SERVE.

With Camellia sinensis leaves, as long as they are in contact with water, they will continue to infuse and, at the very least, result in the over-extraction of tannins, resulting in bitterness.

 

Step 5 - Savor the moment

TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THE CHARACTER AND AROMA

We recommend tasting the tea first on it's own, so that you may appreciate the flavor profile as our Master Blenders intended. Then, from there, if you are craving a drop of local honey, a dollop of raspberry jam, or a splash of your favorite milk option, be our guest! Find peace in a teacup.