Tea preparation is an art. For the best tea, start with a ceramic teapot with a lid. Rinse
the teapot with hot water to warm it, then add one teaspoon of tea or one tea bag for each cup
(250mL) of water. In a tea kettle, bring water to a full boil—water at a bubbling boil
agitates the tea leaves and causes them to open, for the full extraction of flavor. Pour
boiling water over the tea bags or tea leaves in the teapot, and steep for a full three to
five minutes. Flavor and caffeine are dissolved earliest, and the longer the tea is allowed to
brew, the more tannin—the compound that gives tea its pungency and body—is allowed
to dissolve into the brew. After steeping, remove tea bags or strain tea through a fine mesh
tea strainer. Serve tea piping hot with sugar
or honey and milk or
lemon, or straight.
Preparation methods also add character. Try yerba mate—the potent Argentinean
favorite—with a touch of vanilla and milk to soften the vigorous flavor. Karkade, a
traditional Egyptian tea, consists of brewed hibiscus flowers and copious quantities of sugar.
Moroccan mint tea—a strong, heavily sweetened brew of spearmint leaves—is
traditionally served after meals in the Middle East. White coffee, a Lebanese favorite, is a
tea-like concoction made with orange flowers and sugar, and served hot in demitasse
glasses.
Buying and storing tips
Tea may be purchased loose, in tea bags, or in bulk. Tea bags should be individually
wrapped in foil or cellophane to preserve the delicate volatile oils. Store tea bags in a
cool, dark cupboard for up to one month. Store loose tea in tightly sealed glass containers in
a cool, dark cupboard for two weeks. While tea doesn’t go bad, it loses its flavor and
aroma as the volatile oils evaporate. You can tell if tea is stale when it no longer has a
noticeable aroma.
Varieties
All teas, excluding herbal varieties, come from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis.
Black, green, and oolong are considered the basic types of teas, but thousands of varieties
exist. Black tea is the most common form of tea worldwide. It is prepared from green tea
leaves that have been allowed to oxidize, or ferment, to form a reddish brew. Oolong tea is a
lightly fermented tea, between green and black tea on a continuum. Green tea is an unfermented, dried tea.
Variations in flavor, color, and strength are based on factors in growing, harvesting, and
processing. Tea leaves fresh from the bush are harsh and bland. Processing methods largely
determine the end flavor of the tea. Teas may also be blended to create variations on flavors,
and may be flavored with other ingredients, such as jasmine or bergamot.
Herbal tea—technically not “tea” at all—uses a blend of dried plant
flowers, stems, roots, or leaves for a hot brew.
Organic varieties are available.
Nutrition Highlights
Tea (black), 1 cup (170g)
Calories: 1.7
Protein: 0.0g
Carbohydrate: 0.5g
Total Fat: 0.0g
Fiber: 0.0g
The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes
only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult
your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any
supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
Information expires June 2009.
