Black teas: darjeeling, ceylon, assam Green and herbal teas: jasmine, chamomile, mint Flavored teas: Earl Grey, lemon ginger, chocolate rooibos
If you used loose leaf tea, you’ll need to strain it when pouring it into your guest’s cup. Avoid squeezing the tea bags with your spoon. This will make the tea bitter.
For finger sandwiches, consider serving cucumber and cream cheese, sliced tomato and watercress, or chicken salad sandwiches with the crusts trimmed. Consider serving a variety of miniature sweet scones that you can serve with clotted cream, jam, or citrus curds. You can buy or make small pastries and baked goods like shortbread, macarons, or tea cake.
You can still set out cookies and fruit, but they don’t need to be as elaborate as those for afternoon tea.
Consider offering alternative milks or sugars for your guests. For example, offer soy milk or almond milk instead of cow’s milk. You can also offer honey or stevia instead of granulated sugar.
If the weather is nice, consider serving the tea outside. For a party, send your guests home with tea party favors. For example, you could send them home with tea strainers, cookies shaped like teapots, or sachets of tea.
Popular types of Chinese tea include Lapsang Souchong which has a smokey flavor and Dragon Pearl Jasmine, a light green tea.
Chinese teapots (called Yixing teapots) are smaller than Western teapots and made of unglazed clay. While most of these only hold around 1 cup (240 ml) of tea, you can use a larger pot if you’re serving several people.
You can pour the water over the teacups to keep them warm. Keep in mind that you won’t be drinking this since you’re just rinsing the leaves and getting them to open up.
The short brew time is possible because the tea leaves have been rinsed and opened.
Chinese tea should be served plain, without milk, sugar, or lemon.
For example, for the second brew, you’ll need 6 to 8 seconds. For the third brew, you’ll need 8 to 10 seconds and for the fourth brew, you’ll need 10 to 12 seconds.
You can add more water to the kettle for a second brewing. Keep in mind that the flavor will change as the leaves continue to steep.
You can add more water to the kettle for a second brewing. Keep in mind that the flavor will change as the leaves continue to steep.
Serving yerba mate is a social event. You can fill the gourd and pass it around to your guests. You can refill the gourd with fresh hot water 15 to 20 times.
To make masala chai, add 4 black peppercorns, 1 stick of cinnamon, 6 green cardamom pods, 6 cloves, 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of peeled, sliced ginger root, and 2 tablespoons (8 g) of sugar to the milky tea as it heats.
To make masala chai, add 4 black peppercorns, 1 stick of cinnamon, 6 green cardamom pods, 6 cloves, 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of peeled, sliced ginger root, and 2 tablespoons (8 g) of sugar to the milky tea as it heats.
