Steve Smith, a master tea brewer, talks about the many varieties of tea as well as their health benefits. He then demonstrates the correct way to brew a perfect cup of tea.
- Despite the misconception that tea has as much caffeine as coffee, black tea only has around one-third of the amount.
- Tea is the No. 2 beverage (behind water) in many countries and comes with a ceremonial aspect that the United States has yet to fully embrace.
- There are three main types of tea, including green, which is a popular tea that is high in vitamins and minerals and is known for adding oxygen to the bloodstream. There's oolong, a slightly stronger, partially fermented Chinese tea, and there's black, a fully-fermented, rich-tasting tea.
- Herbal components can be added to green and black teas to infuse as much spice as desired. Herbs such as lemon grass, orange peel, mint leaf, chamomile, star anise, hibiscus flowers, ground cinnamon--or just about anything else that can be found in a spice cabinet--can be added to the infuser to create a magical combination.
- Infusion is the process of steeping the tea. Always be sure to pour water that has just come to a boil over the infuser. Do not add the infuser to water that has already been poured in a cup. This action allows the leaves to unfurl, which is the reason an infuser should only be filled to around half its capacity.
- Although the amount of time varies, a good infusion should last from three to five minutes.
