by Tirzah Hawkins

Created on: February 19, 2009   Last Updated: February 20, 2009

Tea is the leaves or leaf buds of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It may also be used to refer to the finished beverage from brewing the leaves or to the plant itself. Black, oolang, green and white tea are the most popular kinds. They all come from the same plant; each is just processed differently. Herbal teas are an infusion of fruit or herbs and do not contain Camellia sinensis. The South African rooibos plant is used to make "red tea".

Because tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, you can serve it to just about any guest in your home. By learning a few rules about brewing and preparing tea, you can serve it with confidence in no time.

Start with some nice fresh tap or filtered water. This allows the water to be properly oxygenated. Old water or water that has already been boiled can cause the tea to taste flat.

When brewing a pot of black tea, use one tea bag per person and one extra bag. Green tea requires fewer leaves than black tea. Generally, the specific tea you are brewing will tell you how much water to use per serving. If there are no directions included, allow eight ounces of water per cup of tea.

Allow the water to reach a rolling boil before using. Pour water over the tea leaves and cover. Black tea should infuse for five or more minutes to allow the leaves to fully release their flavor. The boiling water should be allowed to sit and cool for a minute before pouring over green tea.

Green tea only requires three to four minutes to infuse. Keep the infusing tea hot by covering.

There are many different additives people may choose to drink their tea with. Milk, sugar, honey and lemon are the most common. If you like to drink milk with your tea, it will help prevent the milk from scorching if you slowly add the tea to the milk. Wait to add anything to the tea, though, until it has properly infused so as not to cool the tea before it is finished.

Milk is not recommended in green tea.

Different teas may have recommended brewing times; always follow the guidelines that come with each specific tea first.

If you don't want super hot tea, allow the water to boil, brew the tea and then allow it to cool before consuming. Never start with warm water or you will end up with weak tea.

Generally, allow the water to boil before pouring over the tea leaves. If you add the tea to the water while bringing it to a boil, you will end up with a stronger tea that may have a bitter taste to it.

Far more important than all the rest is to sit and enjoy the tea, with or without company and with or without additives, when it is done infusing. Try many different teas and note the unique flavors of each.

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