January is National Hot Tea Month

How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

A tea party is an elegant way to celebrate any occasion, and the secret to impressing guests is to know how to brew the perfect cup.

Temperature is very important to brewing that perfect batch. Light teas can burn when soaked in too-hot water, and darker teas may not fully develop their flavour without a boil. Certain teakettles will tell you the temperature of your water but, short of that, a simple kitchen thermometer will do just fine.

Steeping time, the amount of time one lets the tea leaves sit in the water and release their flavour, varies. Most steeping time is up to you; if you like a bolder flavour, simply steep longer. But be careful as some teas may release a bitter, unpleasant flavour when steeped for too long.