Karen L. Cox Weblog
When brewing loose leaf teas, the actual number of servings will vary based on brewing preferences, but here are some general guidelines when deciding how much tea or herbals to purchase.
Most loose-leaf teas, and herb & fruit blends
3.5 oz. typically serves 35 – 40 cups.
Formosa Oolong
3.0 oz. typically serves 35 – 40 cups.
Chamomile
1.5 oz. typically serves 35 – 40 cups.
Wishing you a great cup of tea,
Karen
www.KarenLCox.com
Tea bags are great for convenience, but be sure you don’t miss out on a loose leaf experience.
Enjoying loose leaf tea allows you to brew your favorite selections in a larger leaf form than is typically available in packaged tea bags.
During brewing, the water is flavored by the tea leaves. A larger leaf means more leaf surface is able to unfurl during brewing, providing more flavor in the cup. If you brew your leaves directly in your cup, mug or teapot, this gives the tea leaves even more room to expand.
Tea bags typically contain smaller leaves, which allows for a stronger brew more quickly. The resulting brew, however, will vary from the subtle flavors and quality of teas brewed in large leaf form.
‘Til next time,
Karen
www.KarenLCox.com
Find just the right brewing method to suit your taste by considering these general guidelines.
A three to five minute brewing time is suitable for most teas. Longer brewing times increase the flavor intensity, but may also increase the astringency or bitterness of a variety.
If you enjoy a stronger flavored tea, but want a shorter brewing time, try brewing more tea leaves per brew. For example, if you brew a teaspoon of your favorite variety for 5 mintues, but want a stronger brew, try brewing a heaping teaspoon for 5 minutes.
If you enjoy a lot of milk and sugar with your tea, you may find a longer brewing time more suitable to allow more of the tea flavor to come through the mixture.
Tea is a very personal experience, and experimenting with amounts and brewing times will lead you to the formula that suits your personal preferences the best.
Guidelines
Green teas: 3 minutes
Black teas and Black Chai Teas: 5 minutes
Rooibos: 4 minutes
Herb & Fruit blends: 5 minutes
Herbals: 5 minutes
In my next post, I’ll present the differences between loose leaf teas and tea bags.
Until then, here’s wishing you a perfect cup!
Karen
www.KarenLCox.com
With the rapid growth in the popularity of tea, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the choices. In this series of articles about tea, I’ll be providing you with an overview of terminology and brewing basics.
Today, we’ll cover the different tea types: Black, Green, Oolong, Chai, Herb & Fruit, Herbal, and Rooibos (Red Tea).
Tea comes from the brewing of leaves from the camellia sinensis plant. The process method used on the leaves after harvesting determines the type of tea produced, for example, black tea, green tea or oolong tea.
Herbal, Herb & Fruit, and Rooibos ‘teas’ are not from the camellia sinensis plant, so are not technically “teas” (but still delicious).
Black
Black tea is typically what is thought of when ‘tea’ is mentioned. It is, however, only one type of many options in the world of tea. Black teas fall into such categories as flavored (Mango, Blueberry); estate (Darjeeling); and classics (Earl Grey, English Breakfast).
Green
Green tea is less processed than black tea. Green teas have light body and a light greenish or yellowish color. The varieties of green teas available provide a tremendous opportunity to find a favorite. Green teas include traditional green teas that have no added flavorings, green teas that have been scented or flavored, and a popular favorite, Genmaicha, which is a green tea and toasted rice blend.
Oolong
Oolong teas are semifermented and are processed in a way similar to black teas. The flavor of oolong teas can vary greatly from slightly sweet and peachy to bakey.
Chai
Chai is a term typically used to describe tea flavored with the spices of India.
Herb & Fruit
Herb & Fruit ‘teas’ are blends of herbs and fruits. They do not contain leaves from the tea plant and are naturally caffeine free. Some blends have stronger herb overtones than others. If you are new to Herb & Fruit blends, you may want to begin with a more subtle blend.
Herbal
Herbal teas also do not contain leaves from the tea plant. Examples include Chamomile and Peppermint.
Rooibos (Red Tea)
Rooibos is a deep red, needle-like leaf and is naturally caffeine free. The leaves are most easily brewed using filters. Rooibos red tea delivers sweet aroma and a flavorful cup.
In my next post, I’ll be presenting tea brewing basics.
Here’s wishing you a great cup of tea!
Karen
www.KarenLCox.com
For those of you looking for another route to income, or have found yourselves in a position where you must, here are some resources worth your time.
The Million Dollar Napkin
In three very informative videos, Ryan Deiss shares the business model he was able to chart on one napkin, and has used to build a very successful business.
Check it out at his web site: continuityblueprint.com
E-Myth
Another resource worth your time is Michael Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited. This will really open your eyes to what it means (and does not mean) to be an entrepreneur. If you are great at the work you do, and you’re thinking about setting up shop, read this book before taking the leap.
To your success,
Karen
www.KarenLCox.com
