A Guide to Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea

The origin of tea can be traced back to over 4,000 years ago, when leaves from an overhanging tree drifted into a pot of hot water. Since then, tea has become one of the most drunk beverages in the world. From the quintessential English breakfast tea in every household to chai at practically any street corner in India, tea drinking is an integral part of many cultures and lifestyles.

Established in Singapore in 2008, The Wellbeing Group (TWG) Tea is one of the country’s most well-loved tea brand. It celebrates the year 1837 when the island became a trading post for teas and spices, which are essential ingredients to creating their blends.

Committed to providing quality tea leaves, TWG Tea tasters travel across the globe every year to source for the most desirable harvests directly from the tea plantations. Even with one of the largest collections in the world, TWG Tea is constantly innovating and refining the teas in its collection to appeal to the modern tea drinker. Like perfumers, TWG Tea has a team of tea innovators who experiments with natural fruits, flowers, and spices while drawing inspiration from cultures, experiences and more to create blends that are unique to the brand. 

To help you embark on your tea drinking journey, find out how to achieve the perfect cup of tea with tips from TWG Tea.

Take into consideration the time of day or the meal you are having while choosing your tea.

Breakfast teas are generally richer and fuller bodied, making it suitable for the mornings when you need a pick-me-up. Go for stronger black teas such as the Singapore Breakfast Tea or 1837 Black Tea for a boost of energy to start your day. 

If you are a mid-day or an afternoon tea drinker, go for a milder tea like green and blue teas (also known as oolong teas). 1837 Green Tea is a green tea blend that is light and easy to enjoy and goes well with fish, seafood or vegetarian dishes, while a blue tea blend like Ti Kuan Ying Superior can help with digestion after a heavy lunch.

On the other hand, white teas such as White House Tea are a great nightcap to relax and calm the body as they are known to lower your body temperature and contains little to no theine – making it an ideal option for the evening.

To enhance the flavours of your food, you can also find a tea that has similar ingredients. For instance, the Napoleon Tea that uses French spices and hints of vanilla would go wonderfully well with caramel macarons.

To preserve the unique characteristics of each variety of tea, it is advised to use only filtered water and ensure that the water does not boil. Instead, heat filtered water until it simmers at a maximum temperature of 95°C, so as to maintain the dissolved oxygen content within – an important step to bring out the flavour and fragrance of the tea. 

The temperature at which the tea leaves should be infused also varies according to the type of tea. For optimum flavour, the highest grade of white teas, yellow teas and green teas should be infused in water heated to 80°C. For other varieties of blue teas, black teas, matured teas and red teas, water should be between 90°C to 95°C.

The length of infusion is the amount of time each tea should be steeped before drinking and is vital in ensuring that the taste and aroma of the tea leaves are fully developed, without turning bitter. Depending on the type of tea and its richness, the tea leaves should be left to infuse between 2½ to 15 minutes.

The finest-grade white teas require the longest infusion time of up to 15 minutes while other varieties of it can be steeped for around 7 minutes. On the other hand, blue teas such as oolong can be infused from anywhere between 4 to 7 minutes.

Finest grade green teas being one of the richer flavours, should only be infused for no longer than 2½ minutes. Other varieties of green tea together with black teas, matured teas and red teas can be infused for up to 3 minutes.

Whether you prefer lighter blends or bolder flavours, here is a step-by-step guide by TWG Tea to brew that perfect up of tea.

1. Warm the teapot and filter by rinsing them with simmering water.
2. Place one teaspoon or 2½ grams of tea leaves per cup into the warm filter, allowing the tea leaves time to expand.
3. Gently pour simmering water on the tea, completely covering all the leaves.
4. Infuse the tea for a suitable length of time, depending on the variety of tea used.
5. Remove the filter with the tea leaves so that the flavours remain consistent from the first cup to the last.
6. Stir the tea to distribute the tannins throughout the teapot before pouring.
7. Allow the tea to cool for a few minutes before serving to enjoy the full palate of flavours.