Tea brewing is an art that takes practice and a little bit of intuition. Let our crew reveal the basic brewing steps for those unfamiliar with the world of tea infusion. But we always recommend our customers engage in some experimentation.

Organic tea + fresh water = Healthy mind and body

The basics:
1. Heat good-tasting water.
2. Add tea (about one tablespoon per cup).
3. Steep for 2 to 3 minutes, taste.
4. Strain and enjoy!
5. Re-steep for a stronger flavor.

Enjoying a good cup of tea is like taking a vacation with our crew at the Double Koi Tea Company. Here are some key things to keep in mind when it comes to enjoying a great cup of tea.

Tea: A good cup of tea will start with fresh organic tea leaves. Organic tea usually comsists of organic tea leaves and/or twigs. Some flavors may contain dried organic fruit pieces and/or flowers. Organic tea is pesticide-free and grown naturally without chemicals. So each cup of tea is just pure, natural flavor without any harmful chemicals. You can smell and taste the difference between chemically grown and organic tea.

Water: A healthy cup of tea requires good-tasting fresh water, such as spring or filtered. Do not over boil, as this depletes the oxygen in the water and compromises flavor. Do not use boiling water when infusing white or green teas as it would burn the leaves and destroy their delicate flavor. Infuse tea loosely, not in a small tea ball or infuser. This is to allow the leaves to open fully and release their complete aroma and flavor.

Teapot: Choose a teapot, covered cup, or glass, and preheat with good-tasting hot water. Use a strainer to prevent leaves from entering the cup or spout.

Suggested Temperatures: White or green teas, well below boiling (170-185 F). Black and Oolong teas, heat to a boil. Pu-erhs, full roiling boil (212 F).

Infusing Time: Until you are familiar with a particular tea, infuse for a minute or two, and then try a sip. Pay attention to taste rather than color. When the tea tastes right to you, serve or pour off all the liquid to avoid over steeping. Most teas are meant to be infused several times. Increase steeping time for subsequent infusions.

Experiment: Feel free to experiment with water temperature, brewing time, and proportion of tea to water. Watch the leaves unfurl and savor the aroma. You may find that you have a bit of a different style, and by experimenting, you'll discover your own method.

1. Brew a tea concentrate by following the regular brewing instructions printed on the tea pouch, but using twice the amount of leaves. If sweetener is desired, we recommend using crystal sugar.

2. Fill glasses or pitcher approximately 2/3 full with ice (preferably made using filtered water).

3. Immediately pour the hot tea over the ice, separating the leaves with a strainer. If necessary, add more ice until the concentrate is diluted to nearly double its initial volume.

4. If desired, add a slice of lemon, lime or orange or garnish with a sprig of mint leaf.

For example: To prepare 36 ounces of iced tea, brew 18 ounces of tea using approximately 6 teaspoons of tea leaves.

Shock Freezing: Shock freezing is a method of brewing iced tea where very hot tea is poure directly over ice. The sudden cooling preserves the full aroma as well as the active ingredients of the tea. This method also prevents the usual cloudiness that often develops in black teas as they cool off. The cloudiness, however, is purely visual and has no negative impact on the flavor of the tea.

Store tea at room temperature in an airtight container away from moisture and light. For large quantities of bulk tea, we suggest keeping most of it in a large container and keep the rest in a smaller container for everyday use. By keeping the air out, you can prolong the aroma and life of the tea. Some good storage containers are stainless steel or glazed ceramic caddies. Avoid clear containers.

We suggest that our customers buy an amount consumable within three months. Even when stored properly for long periods, a tea's flavor may gradually diminish. Also, this will give you a chance to try the best and freshest flavors of each season.