Brewing tea in a glass teapot adds beauty and elegance to the ritual of tea service. When loose tea or tea flowers are placed inside a glass vessel, the unfurling of the leaves is visible as it transforms pure water into a flavorful steep. Watching this magical dance can heighten the experience of preparing and enjoying tea, adding a visual element that borders on something magical. To properly brew tea with a glass teapot, follow these steps and enjoy an exceptional cup of your favorite blend.
CHOOSE YOUR TEA
Make the most of every cup by choosing a blend made with exquisite flavors. Black, green, white, herbal and artisanal flowering teas all look beautiful when brewed in a glass pot. Tea "flowers" are actually bundles of tea leaves wrapped into a bulb-like shape that "blooms" as the tea steeps, turning the pot into a miniature garden that can be admired as it steeps. Gunpowder tea is a similar example; it takes its name from the gentle yet explosive way its pearls blossom when placed in hot water.
HEAT THE WATER
Using a kettle or a pan on the stove, heat the desired amount of water to the correct temperature for the tea you chose. Black and herbal teas need near-boiling water, around 208 degrees Fahrenheit, while green and white teas require slightly cooler water, closer to 175 degrees. Be sure to preheat your teapot by rinsing the vessel with hot water to warm it up. This creates a consistent temperature for the tea and helps prevent the possibility of breakage.
ADD THE TEA
Measure the correct amount of tea or place a tea flower directly into the pot. Though many glass teapots come with an infuser, there's something special about watching tea leaves expand as they brew. This is especially true of pearl and gunpowder varieties.
STEEP AND KEEP WATCH
Each tea type has a specific brewing time. For delicate green tea, it's around two to three minutes to avoid bitterness, while black teas may require three to five minutes for ideal flavor. Herbal teas may take more than five minutes for the flavor to fully infuse, and may never become bitter from over-steeping.
POUR AND ENJOY
Make sure all the tea leaves have settled before pouring your tea. If you chose not to use an infuser, you may wish to pour it through a strainer into your cup. Tea purists may wish to preheat the cups with hot water as well, but this isn't necessary. Add your preferred sweetener, stir, and enjoy. Keep the remainder of the tea warm with a teapot warmer, either via a warming zone on the stove or with a small, burner-style stand and tea light.
Using a glass teapot allows you to control every aspect of the tea brewing experience. By giving you the ability to watch the leaves expand and gauge the strength of the tea from the color of the liquid, glass teapots ensure optimal flavor along with a magnificent show.
To explore Tea Forté’s beautiful array of teaware, click here and discover your next tea experience.
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