Tea FAQs

Both Chamomile and Lavender flowers make great stress reducing teas.

Green tea, peppermint and teas that incorporate ginger, like Peppermint Potion are great energy boosters. Also, the herbs ginseng and maca, as found in Plum Good Virilitea are celebrated for their acclaimed effects on energy boosting properties.

Anise, lavender, chamomile are all reported as calming teas and as century old aids that help with sleep and relaxation.

Brewing your tea with fresh water, for the right amount of time makes all the difference.

Type

What type of tea are you planning to brew? Green tea leaves, for example, are more delicate and fresh than black tea leaves, so they can be steeped at a lower temperature and don’t need to be steeped as long. Herbal teas, on the other hand, do not contain the Camellia sinensis tea plant, so they can steep much longer than a true tea without becoming astringent or bitter.

Temperature

Tea generally requires a brewing temperature of anywhere from 160 to 212 degrees, depending on the type of tea. If you don’t have an electric kettle with a temperature control, just remember that at sea level water simmers at 190 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. You can visually guesstimate the water temperate by paying attention to the bubbles. But remember that the boiling temperature drops about a degree for every 100 feet in altitude increase, so you may need to adjust the further away from sea level you are.

Time

If you steep tea for too little time, your tea can be weak and watery. If you over steep your tea, you could risk a mouthful of bitterness and astringency. Taste your tea after the minimum recommended steeping time and then decide if you’d like it to steep a little longer.