Collection: Tea Brewing Accessories

Wellcat's Tea Tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when brewing your favorite tea: allow 1 oz of tea to 1 pint of water, or 1 teaspoon of tea to 1 cup (8 oz) of water. Proportions of tea to water can vary depending upon the intended flavor, use and properties of the individual plant used, as well as whether you are using fresh or dried herbs. Allow up to five minutes brewing time. Always keep your brew covered to ensure the volatile oils do not escape.

If preparing a flower tea, such as Chamomile or Elder, steep only a few minutes to preserve the delicate flavor; tea leaves for a bit longer. Looking for that extra lilt to tempt your palate? If you want to sweeten your brew without calories--or, if you're diabetic and despair of the various artificial sweeteners--try a bit of Stevia, known also as the Sweet Herb of Paraguay.

Using leaves, flowers, seeds, or bark of herbs and spices allows a person to create unique and natural beverages. If you simply wish to have a hot beverage with great taste and anti-oxidant properties, you can easily create a tea--also known as a tissane--by briefly (3-5 minutes, usually) steeping your preferred choice in hot water.

To extract a greater range of medicinal benefits from various herbs, you will need to brew a longer and stronger beverage, known as a decoction.