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Let’s address this directly: Yes, tea is hydrating! While you may have heard the myth that tea is dehydrating, most research today reveals that tea (which is 99% water) is actually a great way to stay hydrated. The Camellia sinensis plant does contain caffeine, but this does not necessarily affect hydration.

WHY HYDRATION MATTERS
Hydration can affect everything from your bodily functions to your moods. Did you know that the human body is 60% water? So you can see why it’s pretty crucial.

Here are some of the benefits of hydration:

• Improves mood & focus
• Increases energy and reduces fatigue
• Supports bodily functions
• Keeps the skin hydrated and promotes a healthy complexion
• May relieve headaches (and hangovers!)
• Can improve sleep quality

THE BEST HYDRATING TEAS
Rooibos… known to be super hydrating, high in antioxidants and rich in electrolytes—essential minerals that help balance the water content in the body. That’s why we often refer to it as the sports drink of the plant world! It’s also caffeine-free, so that means you can enjoy it morning, noon and night. Rooibos-based teas are perfect to sip on ice, during or after a workout thanks to their thirst-quenching properties and because they can help replenish your lost minerals and fluids. Tea, like your daily water intake, is a healthy conscious choice and is now becoming known as habit drinking. After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world!

There is no right or wrong way to make tea and there are many ways to brew. Some methods are better suited for certain teas, but what matters most is that you enjoy the taste of your tea blend. Cold brew, hot brew, infusion, latte, and so many more…

Tea may become an entire hobby, and truth be told, you require only a few basic tools to make a lovely cup of tea. Tea bags are of course the simplest method to brew your cup or pot of tea, but loose leaf tea is just as easy once you get the hang of it.
1 TEASPOON =1 tea bag. ~ use 1-2 teabags or 1 tablespoon for every 8 ounces of water.

ELECTRIC KETTLE
This is your home brew most efficient and safest way to heat the water for making tea. There are even kettles now that help set the correct temperature for making the most delicate of teas and a perfect cup everytime.

FRENCH PRESS
The French press is a brewing device that usually consists of a glass or plastic beaker with a plunger that will filter the tea leaves. Tea leaves are placed at the bottom and then water is poured into the beaker. After pouring in your boiling water, you gently press down the plunger, however | don’t suggest going tightly down as you may make an over extract of the tea and the taste will be altered. After steeping for the allotted time, simply pour into your cup.

INFUSER
Infusing is submerging a tea in hot water for several minutes. The leaves are then strained, or the bag /infuser is removed from the water. Some infusers are open and sit on top of your cup or the side; while others are enclosed. Just fill with approximately 1 tbsp of your loose tea for each cup. A pot of tea will require at least 2 bags or 2 infusers typically.

COLD BREWING
As the name suggests, you are making your favourite ice tea by brewing in cold water for several hours and there is no heat involved. The flavour will be somewhat lighter, but there will be no bitterness. Typically, you will use double the amount of tea for cold brewing. You can cold brew just about any type of tea. An infuser is not recommended for cold brewing as it can stop the leaves from expanding completely.

SINGLE USE TEA BAGS
Perhaps the best known and easiest way to make a cup or pot of tea. Just put the bag in your cup and pour in the hot water, let it brew for the appropriate amount of time. Not all tea bags are created equal… if using paper disposable tea bags, look for unbleached or a pyramid style bag.

METAL STEEPERS
These often come in a ball mesh shape. Tea leaves are placed into the chamber and water is added into the cup or pot. Metal steepers are a convenient and inexpensive way to brew loose leaf teas.

BREWING BASKET
Brewing baskets are made of stainless steel or mesh that sits directly on your cup. The tea leaves are placed inside, hot water is poured in, and then you remove the basket after the desired brew time.

All types of true tea come from the Camellia sinensis plant which is a shrub native to China and India. These include white, green, oolong, black, and pu-erh teas.

Teas made from other plants (herbal teas, African rooibos tea, and so on) are not true teas but should be considered tisanes — a catch-all for any beverage made from the infusion of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water.

White

White tea is the purest and least processed type. As a result, this variety has the highest level of polyphenols, and thus more potentially beneficial cancer-fighting properties than any other type available. Light in color and flavor, this comes from only the youngest leaves and buds of the plant. These are first steamed, and then dried. This type of processing results in a drink that’s very low in caffeine.

Green

Even today, green tea is the drink of choice all throughout Asia. Minimally processed through steaming alone, green tea also has high health benefits. The antioxidants found in green tea have been shown to inhibit the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. It’s also been proven to help prevent the clogging of arteries, help burn fat, counteract the effects of stress, reduce the risk of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and reduce the risk of stroke.

Black

The most processed of all the teas, making black tea involves withering the leaves, then rolling them, a long period of fermentation, and then firing the leaves. This results in a complex and full-bodied sweet extraction. It has the highest caffeine content, so it will give your nervous system a level of stimulation similar to coffee. Black tea is chock-full of antioxidants, some of which have been shown to help protect the lungs from the damage caused by cigarette smoke. Drinking this type may still help to lower your risk of stroke as well.

Rooibos

Made from the South African Red Bush, Rooibos (a.k.a. African Red Tea) is an herbal tea for which leaves are harvested from the plant, ground and bruised, fermented, and dried. Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, and sweet with a sometimes nutty flavor. Green rooibos is also available, made by skipping the fermentation period before drying. This type has a lighter taste. Rooibos also contains polyphenols known for their cancer-fighting properties.

What Comes First: Milk Or Tea?

The tradition of pouring milk first had little to do with how it made the tea taste and more to do with class. That is, you didn’t pour the tea first unless you owned a quality set of china that didn’t crack under the heat of boiled water. Milk was only poured first to prevent the cup from cracking, as cheaper materials didn’t hold up to such hot brews. (Personally | add the milk last to satisfy my blend and brewed tone as | like a stronger cup of tea).