Recently, I was looking for a nice tea that I could drink at night that would have a good flavor without a lot of caffeine that would keep me up at night. Since I am a big fan of ginger tea, I decided to give this organic YogiTea a try.

This blend is Ginger Orange with Vanilla. And the ingredients are ginger, orange peel and vanilla. Overall, this was an excellent tea.

An important thing to note is that if you let it steep as long as the packaging recommends, you will get a very hot ginger flavor. But, if you leave it in the hot water for a shorter period, the ginger is milder and not as overpowering.

The orange and vanilla are a nice compliment to the stronger ginger. However, if you are not a fan of vanilla drinks (like cream soda) then you will not really enjoy this blend as the vanilla flavor is definitely noticeable.

This was a nice pre-bedtime tea for me. And I also found that it was nice to drink along with a slice of carrot cake. I imagine it would be good with any similar type of spiced baked good or gingerbread cookies.

After emptying this box of tea, I can definitely say that is is something that I would buy again.

After spending some time in England and Scotland this summer, I have developed quite a taste for black tea with a bit of milk and sugar. And since English Breakfast is what was normally served over there, that is the exact tea that I want to drink at home.

Though I have tried other English Breakfast brands, this one from Clipper just might be my favorite.

It is organic with the only ingredient being the black tea, which is just how I like it. The tea bags are not bleached white, which is also something that is important to me.

As with most black teas, the flavor of this one is quite strong and robust. And when you add in just a little milk and sugar, it really shines. Don’t get me wrong though, it also tastes great just plain with nothing added to it at all.

One important thing that you should know is that when you buy the larger box like I did (see the photo), then the tea bags are not individually packaged. Instead, they are all in a type of plastic together in the box. So when you open it the first time, there is no real way to seal it back up other than to fold over the top of the bag. I’m not certain if air exposure does any harm to the flavor of the tea, but if you drink it rather quickly like me, then it might not matter as much to you.

Turkey. England. China.

Tea is such an integral part of so many cultures, it’s no surprise that there’s some debate over how the drink is best served. Turkish tea is brewed up strong, no milk allowed. English tea just wouldn’t be English tea without the milk. In China, tea is so sacred, it has its own ceremony.

If there is one thing all tea cultures agree upon, it’s that the brew process is vital. So, no matter how you take it, follow these tips to brew up a perfect cup of tea every time.

Selecting the Right Tea and Proper Tea Storage

The perfect cup of tea begins long before you put the water on to boil. True tea enthusiasts would never be caught with bagged tea in their cupboards, but tea bags are a perfectly acceptable tea option for busy tea lovers.

The downside of bagged tea is that using pre-measured bags takes away your control over how much tea you use in your brew, making it more difficult to get it “just right”.

Whether you use lose or bagged tea, though, storage is important. Store in airtight, non-clear containers in a cool, dry place to prevent smells from being absorbed and changing the tea’s flavor.

The Right Water for Tea

If you have quality tap water, there’s no reason not to use cold water straight from the tap. If you have hard water in your home, though, or funny-flavored water you don’t drink by itself, don’t use it for your tea. It will annihilate the flavor. Instead, use filtered water if you drink filtered tap water, or bottled water.

Water Temperatures by Tea Type

Different teas brew best at different temperatures. Brewing at the proper temp ensures that tea gets maximum extraction for fullest flavor without a bitter taste. For best results, follow the following rules for brewing:

• Black and Herbal –boiling water
• Oolong –water just below a boil (approximately 195 degrees)
• Green and White – water between 160 and 185 degrees

Tea Amounts & Steep Times by Tea Type

Using the proper amount of tea per cup is key to a perfect brew. When using bagged tea, this is simple. Stick to one tea bag per cup.

For loose leaf tea, one teaspoon per cup is the general rule. For strong tea, increase the amount to one tablespoon per cup.

Steep tea according to type:

• Black – 3-5 minutes
• Oolong – 3-5 minutes
• Herbal – 5-7 minutes
• Green – 2-3 minutes
• White – 1-3 minutes

Make Tea Your Own

Once you know the general rules for tea-making, throw them out the window. The perfect cup of tea is the one that best suits your taste, so don’t hesitate to increase or decrease the amount of tea you use per cup.

When working out your perfect tea amount/brew time, make alterations to the amount of tea you use, not the time you steep it.

Since ideal steep time and water temperature for teas are designed to bring about maximum extraction and flavor, its best to hold to those rules first.

Of course, in the end, the taste of the tea is all that matters, so steep as you see fit. Maybe you like a slightly bitter tang to your tea, and that’s quite all right. Don’t let anyone quash your personal tea pride.

Ultimate Tea Brewing Tips

A proper tea brewing method will bring your tea close to perfection. If you’re ready to take it to the next level, incorporate these tips into your process –

Tip 1: Get several small canisters, and mark them.

Keep one canister for each tea type, and don’t mix it up. Protect tea from moisture, air and light to retain its original flavor.

Tip 2: Use a thermometer.

Oh, yeah, it’s anal. Are you worried about OCD, or do you want perfect tea?

If you’re a full-time black tea drinker, you can do without it. If you drink green or white, a thermometer is the best way to get it just right.

Tip 3: Use a timer.

Stop trusting your own clock-watching. Get your steep time just right every time by setting a timer and staying by your brewing tea’s side. It’s only 3 to 5 minutes. Isn’t it worth the time?

Once you’ve got your perfect brewing technique down, it’s time to apply it to iced tea as well. Instead of making a full pitcher of tea and letting it sit in your refrigerator, start flash chilling tea for a freshly-brewed iced tea taste.

Tea tastes best when it’s brewed up fresh. While the majority of us brew our hot tea one cup at a time, though, many of use turn around and brew our iced tea in bulk, letting it steep in a pan and then pouring it into a pitcher to sit in the refrigerator.

The good news for those who like to brew up a pot of tea and keep it cold in the refrigerator is that you’re not losing those precious antioxidants. A study by Prevention Magazine found that tea that sits in the refrigerator overnight actually retains the same antioxidant levels as drinking it fresh-brewed.

When it comes to letting tea sit, it’s the taste that suffers, at least if tea purists are to be believed.  Flash chilling is a way to turn just-steeped tea into iced tea to lock in that freshly-brewed flavor.

How to Flash Chill Iced Tea

Before you start the brewing process, you need to gather a few supplies. For flash chilling, you’ll need –

Typical teaware:

• Kettle
• Heat-resistant mug or measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Filter

Non-typical tea tool:

• Drink shaker

1 – Place two heaping teaspoons of tea (and any extra spices or flavorings) in a heat-resistant mug or cup. Make sure you have a cup with a handle to make pouring easier.

2 – Pour roughly 1 ¼ cup of boiling water over tea. Let steep for 2 minutes.

3 – Fill a drink shaker with 5 to 6 large ice cubes.

4 – Add the brewed tea to the shaker, pouring through a filter to catch the tea leaves.

5 – Place the lid on the shaker, and shake until all the ice inside has fully melted.

6 – Fix up a glass with a few ice cubes and your favorite tea garnishments, such as mint or lemon. Pour the chilled tea into the glass, and quiver with the delicious ecstasy of drinking fresh iced tea.

TIPS

Play with the flavor. Adjust the amount of tea to your taste. Keep in mind, you’ll need a strong brew to compensate for the ice. Alternately, add time onto the steep time for a stronger flavor. Just don’t go over the recommended time on the tea packaging, or your tea might turn out bitter.

Increase steeping time if the tea tastes too weak, but don’t go over the recommended time on the tea’s packaging to avoid over-extraction.

Add sweeteners, such as honey or sugar, to the tea as it brews to ensure proper distribution.

Buy bagged ice or make ice cubes with filtered water to ensure your flash-chilled iced tea tastes its very best.