Text by Gerald Soria
Photos by Shaina-Marie Iloreta
Green Tea
Water Temperature: 160-180 Degrees Fahrenheit (71-82 Degrees Celsius)
Recommended Steep Time: 1-3 minutes
Ratio: 2 grams of tea for every 6 ounces of water
Originating in China dating as far as 2737 B.C, this popular drink is well known for its naturally calming effects. While plain green tea is considered bittersweet, it’s mild flavor allows for many different options as to what you can add to make it suit to your taste.
Popular Flavorings and Additives for Green Tea:
Crushed Mint (Peppermint)
Sliced Lemon or Lime
Honey
Rosemary
Ginger
Oolong Tea
Water Temperature: 185-205 Degrees Fahrenheit (85-95 Degrees Celsius)
Recommended Steep Time: 1-5 minutes
A short brew time gives lighter flavor, similar to green tea. While a longer steep gives a stronger flavor, similar to black tea.
Ratio: 2 grams of tea for every 6 ounces of water
This tea is known to have a wide range of flavors due to how it is made. While green tea is not oxidized and black teas have been fully oxidized, oolong teas have only been partially oxidized, thus giving its varied and unique flavors.
Oolong Tea Variety
Green: Jade or Emerald in color this variety will look rolled or twisted, its flavor mild and floral.
Dark: Moderately oxidized, this variety is known to be long, dark and twisted, the flavor akin to a mildly roasted taste.
Black Tea
Water Temperature: 190-215 Degrees Fahrenheit (87-101 Degrees Celsius)
Recommended Steep Time: 3-5 Minutes
Ratio: 2 grams of tea for every 6 ounces of water
Black Tea is generally the strongest tasting due to their oxidation. A bitter drink on its own, this it is popular due to the strong flavor and aroma.
Popular varieties and flavors of black teas
Chai
Earl Gray
Darjeeling
Assam
English Breakfast
Recently, black tea has been used commonly in a popular drink known as boba tea.
Simple Milk Tea Recipe Using Black Tea
3 grams of Black Tea (Chai or Spiced for more flavors)
8 ounces of water at 200 Degrees Fahrenheit (93 Degrees Celsius)
2 tablespoon of Condensed Milk
Steep your black tea in water for 6 minutes
Stir 2 tablespoons of Condensed Milk, add more if needed
Let it sit until cool enough to drink
Optional: Add Ice to make a cool, refreshing drink
Herbal Tea
Water Temperature: 200-220 Degrees Fahrenheit (93-104 Degrees Celsius)
Recommended Steep Time: 5+ minutes
Ratio: 2 grams of tea for ever 6 ounces of water
A more varied tea category, Herbal or tisanes are prepared from spices, fruits, herbs, and other plant materials. Tisanes as a variety are mostly defined by its concoctions of different flavors and colors. Hibiscus, Peppermint, Citrus Peels, Lavender, etc. are commonly used in herbal tea mixtures.
Popular Herbal Tea Mixtures
Lavender, Spearmint, Rosemary
Hibiscus, Cranberry, Blueberry, Jasmine Tea
Ginger, Cinnamon, Apple, Coconut
Lemon Grass, Green Tea
Sage, Rosemary, Basil
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2019 issue.