There are just 3 things you need for a really good cup of black tea (Lipton, Tetley, and most tea you are served in a cafe are black teas....); or green tea (what you are likely served in a Japanese or Chinese resteraunt if you order hot tea) 1. A pot of fresh, cold, clear water. If the water out of your tap is not sweet tasting -- go ahead and indulge yourself with bottled water. It's worth it for the amount of differnce it makes in the finished tea. Bring your pot of water to a boil and ---> 2. Fresh tea. Either a tea bag, or loose tea in an infuser --the only requirement is that it be fresh. If you have tea that's been on the shelf for 16 years, get rid of it. If you live in a humid climate, keep your tea in air-tight containers like tupperware or sealed mason jars. Buy good tea -- Lipton & Tetley are reasonably good mass produced teas, but be sure and try some of the better teas from India, China (both China countries -- Formosa teas have always been sought after....) and from the traditional English tea makers. -- The Brits' Twinnings Teas offer lots of variety (their Breakfast teas are excellent) and are now carried all over the US. And now the US has premium tea available to tea drinkers thanks to the Republic of Tea. 3. A good ritual. Tea is used in many societies as the basis for an afternoon relaxation time, or even as spiritual meditative aides. The reason is the latitude in brewing methods which lets almost anyone be successful at making tea, and therefore allows us all the same opportunity for enjoyment, pleasure, quiet, care, thoughtfulness, conversation, and ritual. Ritual allows us to connect. To our self, our family, our past, our beliefs, our friends, our thoughts -- and give us a mechanism for doing these things daily. so....... Put your tea bag(s) or infuser of loose tea into your cup or a tea pot and pour in the boiling water. Never use previously boiled water -- much of the free-flowing oxygen is lost with boiling, and oxygen is key in getting the best flavor into a cup of tea. (This is also why it's never a good idea to use hot water out of the tap -- it's only hot because it's been sitting in a hot water heater for hours of simmer -- loosing far to much oxygen to make a good cup of tea....) Black tea brews quickly -- between .5 and 1 minute is more than enough. In fact, for a single cup of tea, you may want to "dangle" or "dunk" your tea bag a few times, tasting in between to see what strength you like. If you leave your tea leaves in the hot water for longer than 2 minutes, you will begin to notice a bitter taste rather than the crisp taste that is preferred by tea drinkers. Green tea takes a little longer to brew -- 1.5 to 2.5 minutes to get a rich flavor. Remember that green teas begin to darken the longer they are expose to oxygen (either surface oxygen from the air, or the oxygen in the water) so you want to keep your brew time short so that the cup or pot of tea does not begin to change before you've had a chance to finish. Aside from the aesthetic reasons, this is why tea in many cultures is enjoyed from tiny cups or bowls and only brewed fresh and in small pots. It's always better to make a second pot (or cup) than to drink a cup that has been sitting for too long. Once your tea reaches the perfect strength -- remove the tea bag or infuser and set it aside on a saucer or trivit. Use any sweetener you like -- honey, white sugar, artificial sweetners.... Then, for black tea, choose if you want lemon or lime for a tangy cup (lemon/lime is not very good in Earl Grey teas, Lapsang Souchong, or any of the smokey fermented teas); or, alternately, add milk/cream to your tea. Most Americans are not accustomed to milk in tea -- but just like coffee, it is a nice way to mellow a sharp cup. Then sit back and slowly sip -- tea is better sipped (rather than gulping like cooled coffee.) Add a cookie -- not too sweet (scones, tea biscuits, even toast....) Share the time or keep it to yourself -- then share it with the little ones who can teach their bears and dolls. ********************************************* REACH US BY EMAIL AT purcifuls@yahoo.com OR BY PHONE AT (806) 239 2927 during business hours. IF YOU DON'T GET A LIVE PERSON -- JUST KEEP TRYING! THIS TIME OF YEAR WE TAKE LOTS OF CALLS!! ********************************************************* BE SURE TO CLICK THE GLOBE ICON AND GO TO OUR FRONT PAGE FOR CURRENT SPECIAL OFFERS AND COUPONS!!! ********************************************************* FOR COMPLETE SHIPPING DETAILS (what kinds are offered, how long it takes, how to choose etc....) CLICK THE "SHIPPING INFO" BUTTON on the left side of any page. ********************************************************* To find out about Purciful's Policies -- privacy, security, returns, placing orders by mail and phone, or just about us -- go to the ABOUT PURCIFUL'S AND POLICIES link -- it's in the column of purple buttons on the left side of every shopping page!