Fine tea and good quality water are the only ingredients you need to make a delicious cup of tea. Using the best water available to you whenever possible will brew a flavorful cup and improve the pleasure you experience drinking your favorite teas.
The ideal water will taste fresh and lively with no aftertaste. Taste your water at room temperature, it shouldn’t taste salty, bitter or acidic. The minerals in hard water will make water taste chalky or metallic. Chlorine gives water a slightly acidic taste, and over-carbonation can make water taste dirty.
Appearance and odor are also good indicators of water quality. Check for clarity or cloudiness by swirling a small amount of water in a clear glass. Simply smelling the water just above the water line you should not detect sulfur, plastic or chemicals.
The best choices of water for brewing a great cup of tea are:
- Fresh spring water – the high oxygen content brews a brisk cup of tea, making spring water the optimum choice, if available.
- Filtered water – many moderately priced carbon filters are available on the market, including water pitchers and filters that attach directly to your faucet.
- Bottled water – the FDA requires labels designating the source of the water, for example, spring, glacial, or artesian water. Choose carefully, as some bottled water contains salts and other minerals that can spoil the flavor of the tea.
Make good-tasting, high quality water a priority when brewing your tea and you will notice the difference.