In a bowl or jar, mix together the black tea of
your choice and the maple sugar.
Store in an airtight, dark
container, away from any light until ready to use.
For
Hot Tea:
Preheat a
teapot or "hot the pot" by rinsing it out with hot water. By
insulating the teapot, it keeps the tea hot during the brewing
process.
Bring the
fresh cold water to a full rolling boil. Remove from the heat
quickly as to not allow the oxygen to escape from the water. Water
that has been reheated gives tea a flat taste. Only boiling water
can extract the full flavor and benefit from the leaves.
Use one
teaspoonful of tea or one tea bag per cup (about 5 or 6 ounces) of
water.
Pour
boiling water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes or the recommended
brewing time as per the instructions of your blend. Do not judge the
strength of your tea by its color. It takes time for the leaves to
unfold and release their flavor. If you prefer your tea stronger, do
not steep longer as it will only turn the tea bitter; simply add
more leaves before brewing. If you prefer your tea less strong, add
hot water after the brewing period. Tea must be brewed to the full
time to extract the complex flavors from the leaves.
As to not
burn the leaves on delicate white and green teas allow the water to
cool before pouring over the leaves.
Always
decant/strain the tea before serving to prevent the leaves from
stewing in the pot.
For
Iced Tea:
Follow the
same rules as for hot tea, but use 50% more tea to allow for melting
ice cubes.
Tea may be
frozen in ice cube trays and used for iced tea. Tea cubes, when made
from the same blend of tea, help to keep the tea from diluting.
Allow the
tea to cool. Pour over ice into a tall glass. Garnish, as desired.
Maple Tea Treats:
Cream Puffs
with
Maple Creme Filling
Maple Shortbread Cookies
