Infusion time, type of water: here are the common mistakes to avoid when preparing tea according to an expert!

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy plenty of hot drinks. If the pumpkin spice latte is the star of the season, nothing beats a good cup of tea. But to enjoy it as it should be, you still need to prepare it well. Although this seems very easy at first glance, in reality it requires some knowledge. There are in particular certain mistakes not to make.

Precisely during an interview, the barista Brice Robin gave us the missteps to avoid with tea. Thanks to it, you will have the pleasure of rediscovering the art of drinking tea in the best possible way.

Although bagged tea should not be banned, it is generally better to favor loose tea, as Brice Robin explains: “Tea in bags, in general, these are always fine ground teas which are made to infuse quickly, but which are generally of low quality because the leaf cannot open and therefore express all its flavor unlike tea in bulk”.

According to the specialist, ground tea is therefore less interesting and will above all add bitterness to the tea which is not really pleasant.

If you find teas in bags more practical on a daily basis, choose references with longer bags and in which the tea leaves are still whole and not ground.

Like coffee, tea must be chosen carefully. To buy a quality product, the best thing to do is to find out about its origin and its composition. The best according to Brice Robin is to have “information on the harvest date, on the exact origin of the product and not just the country”. Then, it is essential to taste it to ensure that it is “do not be bitter or strong (unless that is the intention of the tea). However, assume that the tea is intended to be subtle in its flavor. If directly, we have a big bitterness which shocks the palate, it’s because it’s weird”.

While it is possible to steep the same tea bag several times, it is essential to respect a certain amount of time. The best is to let it infuse for a maximum of 5 minutes but “tea steeped for 10 minutes is definitely not a good idea” says the expert.

The choice of water is finally a key point since it is “99% of the product”. First of all, it is best to avoid tap water. Turn to bottled mineral water. Some brands are better than others. This is particularly the case of Volvic or Mont Calme since “these are waters that have a good mineral content”. Then, heat the water to the right temperature so as not to harm the tea.

If you respect all these conditions, “this will already be a big gain in terms of quality” and you will enjoy a good tea with all its flavors.