How To Make Black Tea Delicious Every Time

How To Make Black Tea Delicious Every Time

It is no secret that a cup of black tea is one of the most nutritious beverages that you could choose to drink. 

Filled with vitamins and minerals, it is great for your gut health, reduces your blood pressure, and there is research that indicates it may help reduce the risk of strokes and several types of cancer.

It also includes nearly as much caffeine as coffee, meaning it can provide you with that little boost of energy that you need to kickstart your day. There are so many reasons that you should consider giving black tea a chance, as it can be extremely beneficial for your health.

The downside, however, can be the taste. While some people love the flavor, others find the taste to be quite bitter and unenjoyable. 

We’re here to help you. Continue this article to discover how you can make your own delicious black tea, allowing you to enjoy the flavor whilst reaping its many benefits.

How To Make Black Tea

Before we get into the additives that will make it taste better, let’s begin with a simple guide on how to make the drink.

All you will need is a tea bag, some boiling water, and a mug to drink it from.

1. Heat the water until it is boiling, whether that be in a kettle or on the stove.
2. Place the tea bag in the mug.
3. Pour the boiling water into the mug, filling it up, and leave the teabag to brew in the water for between two to three minutes.
4. Remove the teabag and enjoy!

Of course, it is recommended that you wait for the tea to cool down considerably before you attempt to drink it: this way, you avoid burning your lips and mouth.

Now that you are caught up, let’s look at the many different methods you can use to make your black tea more flavorful, without losing its nutritional value.

Make The Tea In A Teapot

Many people swear by this method, believing that black tea tastes so much better if it has been allowed to brew within a teapot before it is served. 

A good reason for this is due to the teapot being much larger than your average mug, meaning the teabag, or teabags, have more room to move around while they are brewing and infusing the boiling water.

The same goes for if you are using loose tea leaves: more room equals better opportunity for the tea itself to infuse the water. 

Plus, the use of more than one teabag most likely adds to the flavor, rather than just relying on one.

Although this is a more old fashioned method, and not many people own teapots in this day and age – aside from being used as decorative ornaments – perhaps it is worth investing in one, just so you can be confident that your tea will taste so much better.

Plus, it will make you feel like you’re at a fancy tea party every time you pour a cup. Win-win!

Add Spices

This option isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy the taste of strong spices in your hot drink, this is definitely an option for you to try.

So, while you are brewing your tea, you will want to add:

• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder
• ½ teaspoon of ginger powder
• ½ teaspoon of nutmeg powder
• ¼ teaspoon of cloves

Allow this mixture to infuse within the water, and after around three minutes, your tea will be ready to consume. While this will release a very strong flavor into your tea, there are also many benefits that will come with this blend of spices:

• Ginger-infused tea will help with your digestion, and can ease nausea if needed.
• Cinnamon is loaded with antitoxins, and will help ease menstruation cramps and other PMS symptoms.
• Nutmeg is great for detoxing the body and improving blood circulation.
• Cloves boost your immune system while also having antiseptic, antiviral and antimicrobial qualities that will help soothe you if you’re suffering with a cold, or the flu.

These spices are great for your body and mind, and if you enjoy their flavors, even better! This tea blend may become one of your new favorites.

Add Citrus Fruits

If you feel the previous recipe may be a little bit too strong-tasting for you, you may prefer a sweeter alternative such as this one.

Citrus fruits contain many nutrients that help boost your immune system, as well as being a great source of fiber and being low in calories. They may even protect you against the risk of getting cancer.

These fruits are simple enough to add to your tea, whether you decide to go with lemons, oranges, grapefruit, or lime: you could even mix them up, adding more than one if you would like to. 

There are two options of adding these flavors: you can either cut the fruit in half and squeeze its juice into the brewing tea, stirring it in, or simply cut the fruit into thin slices and place them into your mug, along with the tea bag, before adding the boiling water.

Adding the fruit before the brewing process will allow the flavor to infuse slower, adding a beautiful natural sweetener to your drink. 

It is worth noting that lemon and grapefruit will add a sharper, stronger flavor compared to oranges and limes, which will add a more subtle, sweet taste. 

Lemon tea has been the favorite of many for centuries, being known as the perfect beverage if you are suffering from the flu. There are so many benefits that can be reaped from citrus fruits, and they taste absolutely amazing in black tea. 

Add Honey

Once again, this ingredient has been used as a natural sweetener for the longest time, being a sworn favorite by many. 

Honey, being the healthier, more beneficial replacement for sugar, will add an almost silky texture to your beverage, contradicting against and balancing out the bitterness of the tea. Simply add two teaspoons to your tea while it is brewing, and stir it in completely until it fully dissolves.

While it tastes great, there are many benefits to adding honey to your tea: it acts as a natural antibiotic, neutralizing the bacteria in your mouth and throat, and has also been known to ease pain!

While honey contains a high level of sugar, and you probably shouldn’t drink too many cups of honey tea a day, it holds so many health benefits and is the more nourishing alternative to sugar.

If you like, you can add a splash of lemon to your honey-infused black tea for more flavor. If you are suffering from the seasonal cold, this will clear your airways and give you that little boost of energy that you may be seeking. Plus, it tastes just as great as honey or lemon used alone in black tea.

Add Mint

Lastly, we have another additive that has been used for many, many years, and is an extremely popular flavor that is usually added to tea.

While the more popular type of tea is peppermint-flavored, which is also known for its many health benefits, the original herb itself is just as nutritious and delicious. Using fresh mint in a cup of tea will make your house smell absolutely amazing, and it will taste just as great!

This option, compared to the others, does not have as sweet a flavor: mint has a more required taste, and is extremely refreshing.

It is also very simple to make, as all you need to do is add a couple of mint leaves into the mug with the tea bag – add as many as you like, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be – add boiling water, and allow to brew over the course of two to three minutes.

Once the tea has fully infused, remove the tea bag and the mint leaves. 

While mint tea is another well-used remedy for colds and flus, it has also been known to relieve headaches, aching muscles and menstrual pain, as well as containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

If you would prefer a fresher, more soothing taste in your tea, but would still wish to reap the many health benefits, you should definitely consider dropping a couple of mint leaves in your black tea. The taste and the smell alike are utterly dreamy, and may become your own new found favorite.