Pure, fresh water (spring or purified, if possible); 5-6 ounces per cup

A non-reactive saucepan in which to boil the water (preferably glass or enamel-coated metal). See "Tips."

A ceramic, glass or enameled teapot (see "Tips")

Quality black, green or oolong tea leaves, or herbal leaves and flowers; one teaspoon per cup, plus one for the pot

A fine meshed strainer

A tea cozy (optional)

10-20 minutes

Tea cozy: a kind of warm hat for your teapot. Cozies are deemed essential in environments where the air temperature will chill the water in the pot to the point that it's too cool for proper steeping and enjoyable drinking.

Black tea: Tea that is dried and fermented, thus stronger than green.

Green tea: Tea that is dried immediately after harvesting.

Oolong tea: Semi-fermented, with an inimitable flavor

Using very hard or artificially softened water can significantly mar the flavor of tea.

Some herbs used for teas need to be simmered, not steeped. These are usually roots and barks used for medicinal purposes, and are not discussed here.

2torial #0597: Learn2 Make a Perfect Pot of Tea The pot that hits the spot! In many parts of the world, tea is an inextricable part of history and culture. But in other places, serious tea drinking is just taking hold. Some merely seek an alternative to coffee and soft drinks; some seek the potentially restorative virtues of tea, especially green and herbal varieties. And while the methods and serving of certain varieties differ, consider this 2torial your basic primer. Remember the details: If you must use tap water, run the faucet to clear the water sitting in the pipes. Colder and fresher makes a tastier, livelier infusion. Warm the steeping pot. Let it sit, filled with very hot water, for a few minutes, then drain it. Place it in the oven at the lowest setting until it's warm inside and out. Boil the Water Choose your pot carefully. "Reactive" saucepans include most metals (stainless steel is acceptable), and can impart flavor to the water; aluminum and unlined copper are the worst offenders. Glass and enamel are preferred. Pour the measured, fresh water into the saucepan and place over high heat. Heat the water until it just comes to a rolling boil: over-boiling removes too much oxygen, imparting a flat taste to the tea. Steep the Tea To be true to the brew, steep Western teas in glass or ceramic, Asian teas in ceramic or enamel. Add the tea leaves (one teaspoon per cup, plus one "for the pot") to the warmed steeping pot. Immediately pour the just boiled water over the loose leaves; cover the pot. If available, place the tea cozy over the pot. This will keep the pot warm during the steeping, which helps extract as much flavor as possible. A thick towel, while not as traditional, will do as well. Steep three to five minutes for most teas; longer, to taste, for the more delicate green and herbal infusions.   Strain and Serve the Tea When ready to serve, pour the tea through the strainer into individual cups. Specific teas traditionally use specific accompaniments:   Serve black tea with milk, lemon and sugar, if desired. Never serve black tea with cream: it's too rich, and overwhelms the flavors. Half and half is better. Also never put lemon and milk together, as the milk will curdle. Green tea is served without anything at all. Herb teas are usually served as is, with honey, and/or with lemon. Now that you're a tea perfectionist, keep these principles in mind: While using loose leaves in a pot is greatly encouraged, using a tea ball is acceptable. Be sure it's large enough to hold the amount of tea needed for the pot. Try to draw the line at pre-packaged tea bags. The problem is not so much concept as execution: some large companies hide inferior ingredients in those opaque little bags; some retailers don't discard old boxes that have been sitting around for way too long. So, if you must use tea bags, try to buy them from a retailer known for his/her appreciation of tea - or at least a high turnover of product. Take as much care in preparation as you would if using loose leaves; you'll notice the difference for sure. -end- Learn More!