So, here we are, it is time for the first post about making art out of everything we do. And where better to start than with tea?
Quick Content Overview
- Introduction
- Mindset
- Tea types
- Making the perfect tea
- Adding stuff
- The art of drinking tea
Introduction
We live in these stressful times, where mere existence causes us to lose hair, bite our fingers and buy way more fidget spinners than any sane person should have. And one of the reasons why I am writing about tea today is because it helps to regain your chill and feel nice.
Mindset
I realized that many people do not have the right mindset when it comes to being artful in doing stuff. So let me summarize it quickly:
If you think it is stupid - don't do it
If you don't have the nerve - don't do it
If you are not finding any chill or joy in it - don't do it
What we are trying to do here is make a nice cup of tea and relax. Nothing else. So feel free to indulge yourself. Burn that incense stick. Eat some cookies. Jump into that nice and spacey Taoist monk robe you secretly ordered online. Do what makes you feel good.
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Tea types
The first thing I think all of us should know is which tea is good for what and when to use it. I choose to make things super simple, so note that all teas have many other benefits, I only listed one or two for each type. So here it goes:
White tea
Creates a calmer but more alert state of mind. Good for mornings.
Green tea
Boosts organism and gives extra energy. Recommended for mid-day.
Black tea
Alleviates stress and banishes fatigue. Cool for lunchtime.
Puerh tea
Aids digestion and reduces alcohol in the blood (remember this on January 1st). Nice for after lunch.
Oolong tea
Helps with weight loss and is not heavily caffeinated. You guessed it, perfect for the evenings.
How to make a perfect cup of tea?
Making a nice cup of tea is not hard, even if you are wearing Taoist monk robe. The first advice found online is that loose leaf tea should be used. Using tea bags does not give enough space to the tea, leaving its flavor way weaker compared to the loose leaf tea.
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Water should be fresh and, if possible, filtered. Fresh water is essential because of the oxygen, which helps bring in the flavor. So don't reboil old water found in the kettle, your tea will be flat.
Another important thing is the water temperature. Basically, the darker the tea, the higher water temperature is needed to bring the best out of it. Many kettles have an option to set the boiling temperature, and if you don't have one, you can check the water temperature with a thermometer.
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Of course, making art was never easy, so be prepared to make some sacrifices. Stand your ground next to your teapot, right till the boiling point. You are a free person, and wonders of Instagram can wait. Plus, you are not in a hurry, you are chilling and making your damn perfect cup of tea!
All joke aside, overboiled water is depleted of oxygen and not suitable for tea.
When the required temperature is reached, leave the kettle to rest for two minutes before adding the tea leaves. Notice the word "adding." Tea leaves are added to the water, water should not be poured over them. Burning the tea can be bad for the flavor, so try to wait two minutes and not pour the water over the leaves.
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When it comes to brewing, it is similar to the temperatures - the darker the tea, the longer the brewing time. Here is a table:
White tea: 1-3 minutes
Green tea: 1-3 minutes
Puerh tea: 2-3 minutes
Oolong tea: 2-3 minutes
Black tea: 2-5 minutes
*Fruit/Herbal blends: 3-5 minutes
*not mentioned earlier, because only the initially specified types are considered "teas" in the entire world.
When brewed, filter the tea or if you used the tea bag, remove it. This is crucial, can't stress this enough people!
Leaving the tea brew for too long will make it very bitter and can make you frown in your chill time.
Adding stuff
One of the things I noticed while exploring the tea-making art is the raging debate between milk-first and tea-first people. Each side has some arguments speaking in their favor, so experiment and see what works for you. In his tea-making manual from 1946, here is what George Orwell has to say about the matter:
Tenthly, one should pour tea into the cup first. This is one of the most controversial points of all; indeed in every family in Britain, there are probably two schools of thought on the subject. The milk-first school can bring forward some fairly strong arguments, but I maintain that my own argument is unanswerable. This is that, by putting the tea in first and stirring as one pours, one can precisely regulate the amount of milk whereas one is liable to put in too much milk if one does it the other way round.
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After some tests and research, I have to agree with this fine man. I pour my tea first. There is the third side too, which says that milk is bad and spoils the tea, so no milk is also an option.
Regarding sugar, not many people support its presence in the tea. However, nobody seems to mind honey, so I guess the honey is the solution for all those that like a bit sweeter taste.
Alcohol, on the other hand, was never something people debated, so feel free to add it to your tea. Stress relief is the primary purpose of your tea drinking ritual, so don't hold back. Here are some popular combinations:
- Black tea + Rum
- Green tea + Whiskey
- Earl Grey + Bourbon
Hope you will enjoy in your extra chill layer.
Conclusion
Art of tea making is cool, but what about the art of tea drinking? Well, there is nothing much to say there. Try to enjoy the tea fully, by savoring the fragrance, color, and flavor. Play some nice music. Sit in your favorite chair and relax. You are the master of your fate. And now you are drinking a really nice cup of tea. Life is good.
Hope you guys will like my first guide. And if you want me to write about something, just let me know in the comments. Will be glad to take any suggestions. If anything seems to be missing in this guide, please let me know. Let's make it look good before it gets locked on the Blockchain. Thanks!
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