How Tuesday: Brewing Loose Leaf Tea

There is a quiet ceremony is having a cup of tea. Heating the water. Steeping the leaves. Cupping the warm mug in your hands. Slowly sipping.

Both Asian and British cultures actually do make tea drinking a ceremony. They use special cups and tea pots and carefully select the tea they use. In the US, we throw a tea bag into a mug and zap it in the microwave. Not very ceremonial at all--I have decided that when time permits, I will strive to make it a more special occasion.

I am lucky in that I have a tea infuser, but you could also use a coffee press, a tea strainer that goes over your cup or an inexpensive tea ball. Loose leaf tea is available at finer grocery stores, many coffee shops, and of course, online. 

Use one teaspoon of loose tea for every six ounces of water. Heat the water to boiling and pour directly over tea leaves/strainer/ball. If using an infuser or french press, place the lid on but do not depress the plunger. 

Let the tea steep three to six minutes and dispense the genial beverage.

Tea is a civilized beverage that should sometimes be treated as the special treat that it is.