Green Leaves : The Faces Of Tea

By Steven Wright

Although often considered a “new” or “trendy” alternative to coffee or soda, tea is actually the World’s most commonly consumed beverage after water.   The four most common types of tea found on the market are black tea, oolong tea, green tea and white tea. All of these teas can be made from the same bushes but are processed differently, and, in the case of white tea, grown differently.

One would think that making tea involves hot water and a good hard tea bagging. However, to make an excellent tea, one must use almost surgical precision.

 The two primary factors in creating great tea are water temperature and brewing. First, In order for the tea flavoring and chemicals to be released into the water, it needs to be activated by near boiling water, but it is different for different teas.

Most teas need to have water be introduced at around 210 degrees Fahrenheit in order to be released, and the most common mistake in brewing tea is having too cool of water temperature.

A good way to keep water hot while brewing tea is to pour some boiling water in the container you plan on brewing in and swirl it around, then dump it out.  This makes the container warm, thus better maintaining the water temperature while brewing.

Brewing proves to be the most difficult part of the procedure due to the diversity of tea leaves.  The longer the tea is brewed, the more bitter it becomes, so it gets hard to find the balance between flavor and bitterness.  For example, black tea experts say anywhere between 30 seconds and five minutes is the optimum time for brewing.

Green and white tea is unique in the fact that due to the fragility of the leaves, water must not be boiling, but approximately 185 degrees Fahrenheit, to keep them from burning and making an acrid, bitter taste. The best way to make green tea is in a warmed mug, gradually mixing boiling water with cold water, and tasting after every time water is added.

       So whether you’re sipping your hot tea on the Great Wall of China with a two foot fumanchu, or on a cattle ranch in North Dakota, good tea can be enjoyed by all.