Infusion : 5 mistakes to avoid to prepare the perfect tea

 

How to prepare the best cup of tea!

 

Tea, everyone has tips to share to infuse it well, but what about infusion ? How to get the best brew possible? Many questions come to mind. Since there is no theine in herbal teas, is it easier to get a good result without following specific rules? Or is there also a protocol to follow to have a good high end brew

 Unfortunately no, it is not enough to immerse your infusion bag in a cup of hot water. The quality of your infused drink depends on many factors… Do not question yourself anymore and let yourself be guided, we are going to share the five mistakes to avoid to obtain a good infusion. This will allow you to take full advantage of all the gustatory wonders that the infusions have to offer…

Mistake 1: Not using quality water

Why pay attention to water quality?

Herbal tea is made up of more than 96% water. As you will have understood, the quality of the water is therefore essential if you want to obtain a balanced and quality drink.

 

What is the best water for your brew?

 

It is important to choose low-mineralized water with a neutral pH or tap water, but preferably filtered, because tap water is often rich in limestone. Small tip: if the tap water is chlorinated, let it sit for a few minutes before using it so that the chlorine evaporates or filter it.

Mistake 2 : Not respecting the temperature

Are the infusion temperatures to be followed, or can we adapt the temperature to our desires?

In the herbal infusion technique, heat is an important factor. Indeed, it will help to enhance the aroma and flavor of your infusions (such as plants, flowers or fruits).

Everything is in balance. Too high a temperature could accentuate certain factors. For example, it could reveal a bitterness or a less pleasant taste that will alter the flavor of your infusion. Conversely, too low a temperature will limit the diffusion of aromas.

Respecting the temperature recommended on the packaging of your infusion will allow you to control the balance of the components of your infusion. Each infusion therefore has its optimum temperature to be respected in order to better appreciate it.

Preferably opt for glass or stainless steel kettles with a thermostat that will allow you to easily obtain the desired temperature. Avoid using the microwave to heat your water. Indeed, it does not heat the water evenly and often the water risks being overheated. If you don’t have a kettle, use a simple saucepan on the stove. But the control of the water temperature will be more difficult but acceptable, to obtain a good infusion.

 

Mistake 3: Not following a precise dosage

The quantity also has a very important role to play in the final drink you will get. Overdosing or underdosing can affect the taste of your brew.

 

Quantities may vary depending on the type of natural infusion. Thus, some infusions are extremely strong in taste while others, more subtle, require a little more quantity.

 

To make a good infusion, follow the recommendations during the first uses, and afterwards, do not hesitate to adapt them according to your preferences.

 

If necessary, use special tea spoon for the precise dosage of your tea or use other classic spoons, bearing in mind that:

• 1 tablespoon corresponds to approximately 3 to 9 grams of plants (depending on the type of infusion).
• 1 teaspoon corresponds to approximately 1 to 3 grams of plants.

 

 

If your tea is made up of very small pieces, the spoon is very practical for simple and quick dosing. On the other hand, for infusions with large flowers or large pieces of plants or fruits, a plant can quickly fill the spoon and you will not get a good dosage. In this case, it is advisable to weigh the recommended dose and assess the volume to avoid the risk of dosing too low.

     Mistake 4: Not  following a precise   dosage

For infusions of plants, fruits and flowers, the infusion time often varies between 5 and 10 minutes. Everything will depend on the composition of the infusion, here too it is important to follow and respect the duration on the packaging. If the duration of the infusion is essential, it is because it will influence the final taste of the infusion and also its appearance.

Take the example of our Sapphire tea with blue pea flower, ginger and lemongrass. The ideal steeping time is five minutes. But if you let it steep longer, it might get bluer depending on how much blue butterfly pea flower you dosed in, but also get stronger in taste due to the ginger and lemongrass. In this case, we understand that an infusion time can modify the color but also the final taste of the herbal tea.

 

Now let’s take the example of our mangosteen tea, Journey to Bali. Since it’s powdered and an instant tea, you’d think you could drink it straight. However, if you don’t steep enough, your final drink will be bland and characterless. You must therefore wait the recommended three minutes, which will let all the natural flavors of the fruit mix with the water to offer you a balanced and tastefully better mixture.

 

It is preferable to use an electronic timer with alarm to be sure to respect all the recommendations, and thus enjoy a good infusion. 

Mistake 5: Not choosing good quality infusion and tea

Of the five mistakes to avoid, this is perhaps the most important, having a quality product from the start makes all the difference. Choosing the best plants allows you to better appreciate them as well as to take advantage of their taste qualities and their benefits.

 

This is why, at Zesty , we have created the drink smart, a range of healthy infusion, 100% natural, without added flavor and available in bulk. Nature already offers us many flavors, so we do not need to add artificial flavors to drink a good infusion!

 

With us, there are no decorative flowers, only real flowers that are there to give the infusion their natural flavor. What you see is what you drink. An infusion without aroma is good for you and for your taste buds.

 

Take for example, Herbal Symphony, our floral tea with globe flowers amaranth, pandan leaves, lemongrass and cardamom (relaxing tea). Its name comes from the different flavors that will come to your taste buds during the tasting. You will therefore drink natural plants and enjoy all their taste magic.

 

In summary, to obtain a good infusion, you must: choose your water well, respect the heating temperature, follow the recommended dosage as well as the infusion time and, finally, favor quality infusions.

Want to put these tips into practice, take advantage of our range of Drink smart to test your infusion skills and enjoy your drink to the fullest,