Teaology

 

What is tisane? We call all of our tea blends tea, but you will also see the word tisane on our site to avoid confusion. Growing up in Germany and Switzerland we did not differentiate between tea (made by pouring hot or boiling water over the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant (the plant from which all tea is produced: Black tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Pu'erh tea, White tea) and tisane (an infusion from plant materials other than from the Camellia sinensis e.g. peppermint, hibiscus, lavender, tree bark, etc.). So to summarize:

tea = anything made from the Camellia sinensis plant

herbal tea/tisane = everything else infused in hot water (rooibos, chamomile, etc.)

 

 

How much tea should I buy? As much as you like! As a general rule: per 2 oz tea, you get around 20-30 cups of tea depending on the tea blend. Heavier teas (i.e. fruit teas yield less volume, while leafy teas yield a higher volume (the leaves are much lighter than the dried fruit)). Use about 1 heaping teaspoon of leaves for 200-260ml of water (see brewing details for each tea/tisane types below). For stronger flavor, use more tea. For weaker flavor, use less tea.

It’s important not to over steep your tea. The longer your tea steeps (this is not the case for most fruit tea (tisane) blends or rooibos blends) the more quickly it will release any bitterness and astringency. Taste your tea after the recommended steeping time and then decide if you’d like it to steep a little longer.

Important: Taste is subjective. Everyone should decide for themselves how much or little tea/tisane to use.

 

How long will tea stay fresh? Unopened, packaged tea can last a year beyond any "best by" date (as indicated on the package). Dry leaves will last a very long time, but tea will eventually lose flavor. Store tea in a dry, dark place at room temperature and you are sure to have a beverage you will enjoy. We seal our tea in food-safe barrier packages to ensure moisture control and flavor.

 

Why is there so little in the fruit tea (tisane) in the pouch I ordered, yet the herbal tea (tisane) pouch is filled to the top? Our tea and tisane products are sold by weight. We blend fruit teas using mostly dried fruit (some of them contain some herbs or flower petals). They are much heavier than our leafy teas and tisanes (e.g. Alpine Spring) who only contain lightweight herbs and flower petals. 

 

How to prepare tea? Below we explain the hot brewing methods for different types of teas/tisanes and the cold brewing method. 

  • We recommend always starting with filtered cold water or spring water.
  • Keep in mind that the oxygen content in water will be reduced in the boiling process. Having less oxygen in the water can result in flat tasting tea. Below we provide recommendation for the water temperatures for steeping tea (some are below the boiling point). Make sure your water is safe to drink at those temperatures without boiling it.
  • You can use an infuser or let the leaves roam freely in your vessel of choice and use a strainer after the recommended steeping time.

Herbal and fruit tea:

  • ~2 teaspoons of herb & fruit blend for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of water
  • boiling water 212°F/100°C
  • steeping times vary (direction provided on package and listed for each tea on our website - products) - this also depends on your taste
  • Sweeten to taste. Enjoy!

Chai:

 

  • ~1 teaspoon of chia mix for each 7-9oz/ 200-260ml of water
  • boiling water 212°F/100°C
  • steep for 5-10 minutes - depending on your taste (for true ‘chayee chayee’ steep at least 7 minutes)
  • while the tea is steeping, heat some milk (~20% of the cup's volume) and add ~2 tsp of sugar
  • mix milk/sugar mixture with your steeped chai & enjoy!

Black tea:

  • ~1 teaspoon of black tea for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of water
  • boiling water 212°F/100°C (or slightly below 203°F/95°C)
  • steep for 3-7 minutes (try after 3 minutes and increase steeping time until it fits your taste)
  • Not all black teas can take sweetener or milk; check the product page for each tea to get more details and other serving suggestions. Enjoy!

Green tea:

  • ~1 teaspoon of green tea for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of water
  • water temperature for steeping between  158°F/70°C and 167°F/80°C*
  • steep for about 3 minutes
  • Enjoy!

Oolong tea:

  • ~1 teaspoon of oolong tea for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of water
  • steep between 180°F/82°C and 205°F/96°C* -  (make a bit more water for the rinsing process)
  • rinse tea -> pour a bit of the heated water over leaves (enough to cover them); wait only a few seconds; then discard the water
  • add heated water to rinsed leaves and steep for 1 minutes. Try your infusion and extend steeping time to ~4 minutes according to your taste.
  • Enjoy!

White tea:

 

  • ~1 teaspoon of white tea for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of water
  • water temperature for steeping between 140°F/60°C and 167°F/80°C)*
  • steep for about 3 minutes and taste - continue steeping until you are satisfied with the taste (around 7 minutes max.)
  • Enjoy!

Pu-Erh:

  • ~1 teaspoon of pu-erh tea for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of water
  • steep at 194°F/203°C (make a bit more water for the rinsing process)
  • rinse tea -> pour a bit of the heated water over leaves (enough to cover them); wait for 5 seconds; discard the water
  • add heated water to rinsed leaves and steep for 4 minutes. Try your infusion and extend steeping time to ~6 minutes according to your taste.
  • Enjoy!
*tastes are different. I like my green tea, oolong and white tea at lower end of recommended steeping temperatures. Try it out to find your preferred steeping temperature.
Cold tea brewing method:

Cold tea brewing (as the name suggest) uses only cold water for the steeping process (the brewing). This requires a longer steeping time as the leaves need more time to release their flavors. However, one benefit is that this results in a lighter tasting tea with less astringency and less bitterness. Another added benefit is that you will not be able to over-steep your tea as it can happen when using the hot brewing method.

  

1. find a pitcher or glass jar

2. use about 2 teaspoons of your favorite loose leaf tea for 2 cups of room temperature water or cold water. (We recommend using filtered, freshly drawn cold water). **you can also add fruit pieces (e.g. Mountain Morning Air pairs well with fresh lemon slices)

3. you may add your sweetener of choice at this point, but we recommend waiting as cold brew tea is naturally sweeter in taste

4. cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator. The times below are a suggestion. Feel free to experiment with steeping times according to your own taste.

Herbal and fruit tea: ~12-14 hours
Black tea: ~8-12 hours
Green tea/White tea: ~6-8 hours
Oolong tea: ~8-10 hours
Pu-Erh: ~this really depends on your taste. Try after a shorter period of time and see how you like it. Continue if you want a much more intense flavor.
Chai: not recommended as cold brewing may increase the flavor of some more potent spices, while others will stay in the background and will not release all their flavors, but feel free to experiment as well. If you like cold chia you could prepare them with the traditional hot brewing method and then put the pitcher in the refrigerator overnight.

5. After the steeping time, taste your cold brew tea. You may need to leave it longer if it is not to your taste yet. Once it is done, remove the tea leaves (you can also use an infuser, but we like having the leaves float in the pitcher/glass jar, so they can fully release their flavors - different with hot tea).

6. Enjoy! You may also pour your cold brewed tea over ice for a very refreshing treat.
Cold brew tea is not iced tea. If you want a cold beverage fast, prepare your tea/tisane blend with the hot tea brewing method, let cool and pour over ice.
 
 
 
 
Can I re-steep my tea?
The short answer is yes. Any tea/tisane can potentially be re-steeped. As with steeping time this is subjective and depends on your taste preference. Try it out and see how you like it.
Some observations:
Herbal and fruit tea: Depends on the herb. Herbs with stronger flavors usually perform better. Fruit teas tend to lose a lot of flavor after the first steeping.
Black tea: Black teas will lose body after the first steeping. Usually the second and third time will still taste well with its distinct flavor notes, but will not taste as full-bodied. A second delicious cup might be possible.
Green tea: as Green teas perform very well when being re-steeped. 2-3 steepings are usually possible for green tea. Be aware that flavored teas will loose their potency after the first steeping.
White tea: White teas in general don't have a strong flavor. They are known for their light, bright, clean, smooth flavor (think spring). Similar to green tea they do well with 2-3 steepings. Be aware that flavored teas will use their potency after the first steeping.
Oolong tea: Oolong teas have complex flavor profiles that can change from steep to steep. Good oolong will give you at least 2-3 steepings if not more. Be aware that flavored teas will use their potency after the first steeping.
Pu-Erh: Pu-erh teas are like good wine. They obtain their distinct flavor after years of fermentation. As a rule of thumb: the older the tea, the more times it can be re-steeped. Fun fact: Some pu-erhs hold their flavor even after being re-steeped 10 times. Be aware that flavored teas will use their potency after the first steeping.
Chai: Not recommended.
 
 
Taste is subjective!
We give you suggestions on steeping times. You may want to try shorter or longer times depending on your taste. You can also try adding honey or sugar to sweeten your tea/tisane (be careful adding sweetener to fruit blends and herbal blends with stevia leaves as those blends are naturally sweet). You might also enjoy adding milk to your black tea blends.