HOW TO BREW

Introducing The Berry Tea Shop guide on how to brew the perfect cup of tea. Whilst some brewing techniques lie in the realm of personal preference and how strong or weak you like your tea, there is some science in how to create that ‘perfect’ cup. Continue watching to discover our tips & tricks so that you can have the full Berry Tea Shop experience at home. 


Black Tea

As always, begin by boiling your kettle. We then add one teaspoon of black tea per cup of water to your pot. Some like to add ‘an extra for the pot’, but this isn’t necessary. For a true black tea, set your timer for 2 minutes, but if you would like it stronger or if you intend on adding milk extend this to 3-4 minutes. Once you have poured your tea always add your milk second, so that you can see the exact colour you would like it to be and how much milk you need.

Tea Tip: When brewing loose leaf tea, the leaves are bigger so they require a little extra time to brew, especially compared to a tea bag. 

As Seen In The Video:
Deluxe South Coast Breakfast
Clara Glass Teapot


Green Tea 

To make sure you get the best flavour from your Green Tea there are a few special steps to follow. Start by boiling your water to 80 degrees, some kettles will allow you to specify a temperature, but you can also bring your kettle to boil and let it sit for 5 minutes to bring the temperature down or add a ratio of 1/4 of cold water to 3/4 of boiling water. Add your tea to your pot, 1 teaspoon per cup. Once you have added your water, it is really important to set a timer for 1-2 minutes. If you go any longer than that you will start to taste the bitterness of the tea. It is traditional to serve Chinese and Japanese Green Teas in a small cup.

Tea Tip: All of our green teas are a premium grade, so they can be infused twice.

As Seen In The Video:
Silver Jasmine Blend
Moto Black Iron Teapot 
Silver Tea Strainer Floral Design

 

Herbal Infusion

Herbal tea isn’t officially a ‘tea’, as it doesn’t have tea from the tea plant, so we call them herbal infusions. Simply add one heaped tea spoon per cup to your pot and add your boiling water. Let it brew for 3-5 minutes, but this isn’t as important as it is with a black or green tea, as the longer you leave it the better and more flavoursome it will become. 

Tea Tip: Add a splash of cold water to your tea so that it is ready to drink straight away.

As Seen In The Video:
Peace & Quiet Blend
Tea Filter with Handle and Black Lid

 

Masala Chai

Our famous Masala Chai is one we are asked about all of the time. It is a lovely ritual to create a masala chai, and although it takes a bit more time it is really worth it. Firstly, have your kettle boiled and add half a cup of water to a saucepan and add 2 teaspoons of chai. Allow the chai to infuse in the boiling water for 2 minutes before adding 1 and a half cups of cold milk. Give the pot a gentle stir and bring it the boil. Once it has boiled add one tablespoon of honey and stir it through, this is an optional step, as some people prefer it without the extra sweetness but it can be a nice balance for the spices. Finally, strain into two cups. This recipes makes 2 cups (or 500 ml) but if you are making it for one you can just halve the ingredients. 

Tea Tip: Make sure you give the tin a little shake to mix the spices back up and finer spices can settle to the bottom.

As Seen In The Video:
Masala Chai 
Earth Cup (2 Pack) - Black

 

How To Brew Iced Tea
Iced Tea

Hot Brew Method

1. Add 10 teaspoons of tea in a large container and fill it will 2L of boiling water.
2. Stir through 5 tablespoons of honey, or your choice of sweetener and the juice of one lemon.
3. Allow the brew to infuse for 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain into a large jug and refrigerate until cold.
5. Serve in a tall glass over ice with a dried citrus slice or fresh fruit.

 

Cold Brew Method

1. Add 10 teaspoons of tea in a large container and fill it will 2L of cold filtered water.
2. Allow the tea to infuse overnight.
3. Strain into a large jug.
4. Add 3/4 cup of sugar syrup or your choice of sweetener and juice of 1 lemon. Adjust to taste.
5. Serve in a tall glass over ice with a dried citrus slice or fresh fruit.


NOTE:  To make sugar syrup, combine 1 part sugar to 1 part water in a saucepan
Bring to boil and stir until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear. Allow to cool and then store in a firmly sealed container or bottle in the fridge where it will keep for a few weeks.


Our Favourite Iced Tea Blends
Original Turkish Apple
Summer Breeze
Berry Blend
Blushing Beauty