The Ten Tea Commandments

Taking A Classic Song To Educate with tips to Brewing Tea

The Do's and Do Not’s of Brewing Tea.

We are lovers of tea. Exploring tea varieties can be very fun, entertaining, and adventurous. You don’t have to be a tea sommelier to distinguish great taste and gain an appreciation for quality. There’s no wrong way to enjoy tea but there are some no-no’s that can help you optimize each sip. Recently we opened the ancient scrolls and discovered the sacred Ten Tea Commandments that have been lost to history. Read below and hopefully you will turn from your wicked ways!

1.       Do Not Air-out Thy Tea Stash

Once exposed to air, tea leaves quickly lose flavor. Keep it tight and protect the tea always! Make sure your tea has been properly stored and sealed. Don’t leave it out in the open for the Ops to confiscate. The best way to store tea is in an airtight container, at a constant temperature, away from light and moisture.

2.       Keepeth Thy TeA Fragrant

Store your teas apart from other odorous foods. Keep bulk teas in a large containers with a sticky note with steeping instructions for bigger batches. Typically, these are used to make larger portions for events like our Trap & Tea party, holiday gatherings, weddings, etc. For daily consumption, we use a smaller container. I clean and reuse our empty jam, jelly, and sauce jars for breakfast teas.

3.       Thou Shalt Not Brew Thy Tea with Wack Water

Use fresh, cool, filtered water. Never use lukewarm or pre-heated water. Always use clean tea accessories. Rinse out your kettle right before each boil so that you aren’t sourcing water that has been resting from the day before. If you want to be basic and use tap instead of filtered water, just make sure it’s boiled. Tap water is fine especially when you’re rushing off to work, or in a hurry to be extra in these streets.

4.       Do Not Mistreateth Thy Tea

Would you make your momma wait? No? Well don’t lollygag with the hot water! What irks the most is seeing loose tea sitting all lonely at the bottom of a cup. Lonely and whimpering, the tea anticipates a hot splash of clean water to unlock its greatness. Loose tea is not like frozen chicken needing to be thawed out. If the tea leaves must wait, let’s place it inside a tea ball, okay? Besides, it looks more appealing as a huddle mass than all sprawled out. Put some “respeckt” on that tea’s leaves.

5.       Thou Shalt Know Thy Tea

You know what you like and how you like it – pause. Be mindful that each brand and blend requires different steep times. We always suggest steeping in an infuser -- about three to four minutes for green tea and four to five minutes for oolong and black tea. Simply read the instructions on our packaging so that you can become well acquainted with your flavor blend.

6.       Do Not Cram Thy Tea

You’re not making espresso, Fam, you’re brewing tea. Please don't stuff your infuser. The leaves need enough room to unfurl completely so they can release all the natural flavonoids and oils. The directions for each of our flavor blends, per serving, are spot on. As a rule of thumbs: for each additional pinch beyond the suggested serving, simply add an ounce of water.

7.       Thou Shalt Not Flood The Streets

This is for all you New Jack City wannabes. Don’t brew in gallon format to flip for your own personal hustle. Like we mentioned before, our tea is best when brewed one cup (8 fl. oz.) at a time. More importantly, be mindful of fluid ounces when mass producing specialty teas; especially if you’re not good at maff, or math.

8.       Do Not Getteth High On Your Supply

A cup or two each day is great but don’t overdose on tea. Lots of our customers get smitten at first sip and get attached. Some would say that that’s a good problem to have. Our CFO thinks so too. We don’t want you to ever get bored with our brand. After a Nothin But A Tea Thang binge, step away for a day or so to reset your taste buds. Our online support group doesn’t include Tea Drinker’s Anonymous, yet.

9.       Do Not Tobacco Thy Tea

People do the most outrageous things with tea – some good, some odd. As a biodegradable mulch for house plants?…Cool. As a chewing tobacco?…Nah son! Get your tea jolt simply by steeping longer with less water. Going cold turkey on tea is unacceptable.

10.   Honor Thy Tea Plug and Do Not Covet Another Brand

Okay we made that one up. We know you love Nothin But A Tea Thang tea but it’s fine to have a little tea bae on the side. Variety is the spice of life. But if you don’t love us, at least tell us why. We need closure. Let us know what you’d like to see.

— Randon :-)