The art of how do you properly blend tea is an art that not only needs to be learned but practiced regularly. It’s not just the art of mixing the different varieties of leaves that is important, but learning how to balance and adjust the flavor of each variety. After all, while you might be a fan of a particular blend of green tea, that does not mean that you will also like a particular brand of black tea. And while you might not think that your favorite flavor tea qualifies as blended tea, this article will explain the difference between loose leaf tea and what is considered a blended beverage.
You may have heard of loose leaf tea being used in many recipes, but what does that term mean? A tea can be described as a “loose-leaf” when it comes to flavor and quality, but it cannot be described as “blended tea” without including some sort of blending agent. When you decide that you want a particular blend, or you simply want more of one flavor, the process of how do you blend tea begins.
Blending the loose leaf tea is more like fine art than a science, especially for a nonprofessional. Although many of the books that you find at your local library will teach you how to blend the leaves according to the instructions in the book, there are some secrets and tips that even an avid tea drinker should be aware of. Let us take a look at these tips.
To begin with, when learning how to blend loose leaf tea, always remember to use hot water. This is because when the water is too hot it can affect the quality of the tea. You don’t want to end up with a bad cup of tea, but rather one that is perfect every time.
The second tip is to try to use loose leaf tea that is from high-quality companies. These types of teas are more flavorful because they have been aged properly. However, you should know that not all loose leaf tea was properly aged. So before you attempt to blend it yourself, you should research and see if it has gone through proper aging. Although this step may take more work on your part, you will end up with a better quality cup of tea every single time.
Blending is the process of taking one variety of leaves and transforming it into a tea beverage with the use of another variety of leaves. For example, green tea is typically blended with black tea to produce a darker, richer flavored blend. The exact process of blending is up to the individual taste of each person, but some of the more popular methods include: steeping the leaves in hot water or rolling the leaves into powder before brewing. If you want more of a bold, powerful taste, then steep the leaves overnight and brew the next morning. This is known as roasting your tea.
If you would like a less strong-flavored blend, then you might consider making a “baked pot”. These teas are created by passing the black tea through water and baking it in the final vessel of hot water. Not only is black tea less strong than green, but it has a wonderful smoky flavor on its own, so baking your tea works well for those who enjoy a bit of a robust taste.
Some people prefer to make a “tea balloon”. A tea balloon is essentially a small cup of tea that has been “pumped” full of loose leaf tea. Because of the way it was crafted, these teas retain much more of their original flavor, and they work well as a breakfast drink.
How do you properly blend tea? Just remember that good-quality loose leaf tea is always better when it’s freshly picked. Loose-leaf teas retain more of their natural flavor, and because they’re not as processed, they retain much more of their health benefits. Try brewing a cup of fine loose leaf tea in a special pitcher, such as those made by teapots, today to see just how you like it!