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The preparation of black tea is a subtle balance. You need to obtain a drink rich in flavors while preserving its virtues. The secret to success lies in this recipe: method, water, and timing. Here are the steps to know how to prepare black tea.
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Each black tea has its own recipes. However, there is an unchanging basis for successfully making this tasty health drink. Here is the traditional method for preparing black tea at home.
The flavor of tea is delicate. It should be protected from thermal shocks. For this, purists use the water announcement method. This step allows heating the teapot and cup to prepare them.
In a kettle, you need to heat water. Then, pour it for a few minutes into the teapot and cup. When the teapot is hot, discard the water. Add your tea leaves (half a teaspoon for 15 cl). Put new water in the kettle, and once it's hot, pour it over the tea.
When the infusion is ready, remove the water from the cups and serve. This way, the drink does not experience a sudden temperature change.
The taste of teas also depends on the water used. If too hot, the water degrades the ingredients. The benefits of tea are then greatly reduced. If too cold, on the contrary, the water does not allow the flavors to form.
According to experts, regardless of the type of black teas, water with a temperature between 80°C and 95°C is ideal.
The organic matcha tea or organic white tea require brief infusions. On the contrary, black tea requires longer infusions for more intense flavors. In any case, the steeping time of black tea primarily depends on its origin.
The Darjeeling black tea, the most common, requires an infusion of 2 to 4 minutes. Oolong, a Chinese black tea, is more delicate and should be infused for a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes. Lovers of very dark teas can extend the infusion up to 7 minutes.
You should also be aware that loose tea leaves release their flavors more slowly than the powder in tea bags. Similarly, spiced teas require a shorter infusion to avoid the bitterness of black tea. Indeed, it is impossible to add milk to a spiced infusion.
For a tea with a wide range of flavors, you need 2.5 g of leaves for 15 cl of water. The classic tea bag often has a well-measured quantity, but of poor quality. Loose black tea is the best solution for a homemade recipe rich in taste. If you want a drink richer in flavors, it's better to increase the infusion time rather than the quantity of tea.
While in China all teas are drunk plain, the stronger Indian black teas are perfectly suited to the tradition of milk tea.
Black tea is used as a beverage, but also as a flavoring in cooking. It pairs well with fruits in subtle or refreshing blends. However, such blends must contain more than 50% black tea, otherwise its flavors won't be noticeable.
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