Tea Time!
Sipping on a cup of tea can be a comforting (and healthy!) practice. Tea, both black and green, contains antioxidants that may, among other things, help protect against cancer and heart disease. While tea is not recommended as a replacement for fruit and vegetables, tea�s antioxidant activity has been compared to that of fruit and vegetables in a number of studies.

January is National Hot Tea Month and a great time to enjoy a hot and healthy cup of tea. If you�ve been making tea that tastes like lukewarm dishwater, some of these suggestions offered by Alice Henneman, Registered Dietitian and Extension Educator, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, may help you:

1. Start with fresh cold water. Hot tap water and reheated water have less oxygen and give a "flatter" flavor. Let the water run from the tap for a few seconds to incorporate more oxygen. Unless the directions for your tea state otherwise, heat about 8-ounces of water for each cup of tea you plan to make.

2. Preheat teapot or cup. Fill the teapot or cup in which your tea bag(s) or loose tea will be steeped by filling it with hot water. It�s OK to use hot tap water for preheating. If the heated water for your tea is poured into a cold teapot or cup, the water temperature may drop several degrees and decrease the flavor extraction from the tea.

3. Use correct amount of water and tea. As a general guideline, use about 1 tea bag or 1 teaspoon of loose tea per 8-ounce cup of tea. Check package directions. If your tea is too strong, add more hot water after your tea has brewed. If your tea is too weak, either use more tea or less water the next time you make tea.

4. Brew at correct time/temperature. Generally, for black teas�bring the water to a rolling boil. Immediately pour the boiling water over the tea. Allow black tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. For green tea, which is more delicate than black tea, use water that is about 160 to 180 degrees F or just below boiling. At this temperature, you will see some steam rise from the water. This lower temperature helps protect against a bitter or astringent taste in green tea. Brew green tea for about 3 minutes, or as directed on the package. Avoid letting tea over steep�this also can make it bitter. It may be helpful to use a timer in brewing your tea�the color of the tea isn�t necessarily an indicator of the tea�s taste.

5. Don�t overcrowd loose tea. If you use loose tea leaves rather than tea bags, your tea will taste best if the leaves have some room to expand. Place the tea leaves directly into a teapot and strain the brewed tea with a fine mesh strainer into your cups. Or use a basket infuser or a large tea ball in your teapot or cup. A tea ball or basket infuser should be filled no more than half full with tea so the leaves have room to expand for the best flavor.

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