A Guide to Gourmet Teas and Their Storage, Preparation, and Benefits

Gourmet teas have a much richer aroma and flavor than tea bags and as tea continues to make a big comeback, gourmet teas are becoming increasingly popular.  The five main types of tea are oolong, pu-erh, black, green, and white.  These teas differ based on how the leaves are treated after harvest.  White and green teas are handled very carefully to prevent bruising and oxidizing while darker teas are cut and bruised on purpose to encourage oxidization, which causes the flavor to become fuller-bodied.  Some tea varieties, such as pu-erh, are aged. 

How to Store Gourmet Teas
Darker varieties of gourmet teas such as black tea and oolong hold up longer than others.  Green and white gourmet teas can be stored in an airtight container for up to a year but the sooner you drink them, the better.  One of the best ways to store tea is in a rolled up Ziploc bag.  Avoid storing tea in containers with too much air.  The refrigerator is not a good place to store your tea because the leaves can absorb the smells and flavors of food. 

Tips for Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea
Brewing the perfect cup of a tea is an enlightening and relaxing experience in itself.  The key to brewing a cup of tea with the perfect taste is through adding the hot water to the tea leaves and not the other way around.  Most gourmet teas can be steeped multiple times.  The flavor evolves with each steeping.  Darker teas like black tea can be steeped with boiling water but doing so with delicate teas such as green tea and white tea should be avoided because it leads to a loss of flavor. 

When it comes to portions, about four grams of tea per eight ounces of water is sufficient.  Steep time depends on the type and amount of tea you are brewing.  Some types of tea such as green tea can become very bitter if steeped for too long.  Green tea and white tea should be steeped for one to three minutes, max.  On the other hand, herbal tea blends should steep for around five to seven minutes.  Pu-erh teas should be soaked for thirty seconds and then flushed prior to being steeped for around three to five minutes. 

Most tea connoisseurs never add anything to their tea but water.  Those who use cheap tea bags may add sugar and milk to their tea but if you drink specialty gourmet teas, you should avoid doing so.  The purpose of drinking gourmet teas is to enjoy their excellent aroma and flavor.  Adding milk and sugar to tea prevents you from experiencing the depth of its flavor.  Some tea connoisseurs recommend drinking tea in cups that are white on the inside so you can determine whether the tea has been brewed properly or not based on its color. 

Gourmet Teas vs. Tea Bags
The tea leaves in tea bags are crushed, meaning that most of the essential oils are depleted.  Another problem with tea bags is that they are often more than a year old by the time you buy them at the store and have a stale flavor as a result.  Teas must be enjoyed within six months for the best flavor. 

On the other hand, gourmet teas have more surface area and thus contain more essential oils.  Not only is the experience of drinking gourmet teas more pleasant, there are several health benefits to consuming gourmet tea.  Gourmet tea contains more antioxidants and polyphenols.  Some of the many health benefits associated with drinking quality tea include weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and strengthening of the immune system. 

One of the greatest joys of drinking gourmet tea is the fact that there are so many varieties of tea to try.  You can even purchase a variety of herbal teas and blend them to create your own concoctions.  Discovering a new type of tea to savor is one of the simple pleasures of becoming a connoisseur of gourmet teas. 

Gourmet loose-leaf teas also make great gifts for your loved ones.  Tea drinking is a healthy habit that you can feel confident encouraging other people to start.  Put a delightful bag of gourmet tea in a basket or box along with a tea pot and cups to give someone the ultimate tea gift. 

Some people may be reluctant to try out gourmet teas because they are more expensive than tea bags.  You may have to spend a little more in order to drink gourmet teas but the health benefits and overall experience of drinking them is well worth the extra cost.  As with anything else, you get what you pay for.  Drinking gourmet tea only costs an average of 10 to 25 cents per cup so don’t feel guilty – indulge in fine gourmet teas because it is healthy, enjoyable, and affordable.