Tea Tastings and Classes Philadelphia PA

High Tea and Afternoon Tea

The "tea meals" referred to as afternoon tea and high tea originally started as social dining traditions in England and spread to other English speaking countries in differing forms.

The primary distinction between differing tea meals is the time of day, food served and the location of the meal, according to Marcus Stout, president of Golden Moon Tea Company.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea (also referred to as Low tea) is a light meal typically eaten around 4:00 p.m. Traditionally the tea and food are served on a lounge (or low) table, which is where it gets its name.

Loose tea is served in a teapot with milk and sugar and the tea is usually accompanied by a variety of sandwiches that may include cucumber, egg and cress, tuna, ham, and/or smoked salmon. Scones (with butter, clotted cream and jam), cakes and pastries are served, as well.

While afternoon tea used to be an everyday event, in current times it is more likely to be a treat in a hotel, café, or tea shop -- although some individuals still have a cup of tea and slice of cake or chocolate at tea time. Accordingly, many hotels now market and promote afternoon teas.

High Tea

As an early evening meal with tea served typically eaten between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., it a serves as a substitute for both afternoon tea and the more substantial evening meal. The term comes from the meal being eaten at the "high: or main dining table, instead of the smaller lounge (low) table.

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Loose Leaf Tea vs. Tea Bags

How Loose Leaf Tea Compare to Tea in Tea Bags

Most tea merchants and connoisseurs distinguish loose leaf varieties (also referred to as "bulk" or "whole leaf" tea) and tea packaged in bags in these four ways:

1. Most of the tea that goes into bags in not high quality. Tea bags usually contain broken grades so infusion takes place quickly.

2. Whole leaf teas come in a greater number of varieties than bagged tea and some higher quality teas are only found in loose offerings.

3. Bags are semi-nonbiodegradable additions to biodegradable tea leaves with implications for the environment.

4. Generally speaking, tea bags offer greater convenience although e-commerce now offers loose leaf drinkers the convenience of online ordering and home delivery.

   Are Whole Leaf Teas More Expensive Than Tea Bags?
   

   Many advocates of bagged tea believe that bulk tea costs more than tea in bags. Actually, most good tea is not very expensive and can be very cost effective.

   When you buy tea in bags, most of what you pay for is the process of putting the teas in the bags, and the brand name advertising. High quality tea is generally sold loose, and the price per cup is often lower than for commercial bagged tea.

   Some truly fine teas retail in the United States retail for less than US$20 per pound, which means less than 10 cents per cup. When one considers that most loose leaf teas support multiple tea infusions the prices drop dramatically.

   Fine loose leaf varieties (i.e. green, white, black, oolong, and flavored blends) are typically not available in supermarkets; yet a will offer consumers a wide selection, fast order processing, and the convenience of home delivery.

   According to tea expert Jon M. Stout, chairman of Golden Moon Tea , a high quality loose leaf supplier, the rise in U.S. consumption represents more than the evolution of a new beverage segment, but rather the birth of a loyal tea-consuming community, thriving on a complex fusion of div...

Tips for Brewing Tea

There are some simple techniques for brewing tea that will make the difference between making a good cup of brew and a great one.

Sparkling Clean Equipage

Before making your tea, check to be sure your teapot and utensils are clean. While this seems obvious, kettles, teapots, cups, strainers and other tea accessories need to be gently washed on a regular basis with soap or baking soda (even if they are just used for boiling water or brewing tea).

This helps to remove mineral deposits and old residue that can taint the flavor of your freshly made brew.

Start with Cold, Good-Tasting Water

Since tea is comprised of 99% water, the type of water you use will affect the clarity and taste of your beverage. So if your water tastes good then your tea will taste good.

The best type of water to use when brewing tea is filtered or bottled water (not distilled water) that is free of chemicals and chlorine. If that isn't available and you are using tap water, run your faucet for around ten seconds and until the tap water is cold before filling your tea kettle.

Water and Steeping

For each cup of tea you prepare, you will want to heat 6 ounces of water. So if you are making a pot of tea, be sure you have pre-measured the amount of water the pot holds. The water temperature and length of steeping time varies by the blend of tea you are brewing.

Here are some general tea brewing guidelines for water temperature and steeping times. Adjust the heat and time based on your individual preferences.

The time it takes to brew tea correlates to the size of the leaf in your blend. This means the larger the leaf the longer the brewing time.

Black:

• Water Temp: 205-212 F
• Steeping Time: 3-5 minutesOolong:
  
  • Water Temp: 185-200 F
  • Steeping Time: 3-5 minutesGreen:
    
    • Water Temp: 165-185 F
    • Steeping Time: 3-5 minutesWhite:
      
      • Water Temp: 160-175 F
      • Steeping Time: 2-3 minutesHerbal/Tisanes:
        • Water Temp: 205-212 F
        • Steeping Time: 5-7 minutes

          Amount of Tea
          

          To maximize taste, it is preferable to brew tea leaves in loose form rather than using a small tea ball or infuser (yet these accessories are popular, convenient, and yield tasty brews). This allows the leaves to fully open and release all their flavor.

          Use 1 teaspoon of whole leaf tea for each 6 ounce cup you are brewing. This is the standard for compact blends. If you are brewing tea that has a lot of volume, consider using up to two tablespoons per serving.

          If you want the convenience of using a tea bag or sachet, simply use one for every cup of tea you are making. The key to good tasting brew is to make sure your tea bags are always fresh.

          The tea in commercially produced bags is typically comprised of small pieces of leaves or fannings that are susceptible to becoming stale faster than the well-stored loose leaf variety. Serving
          

          When your tea is done steeping, immediately remove the loose tea from the strainer or the tea bag and lightly stir. Then se...