Tea may not seem like a every expensive item but you just might be surprised at how much money you can spend on tea. In fact, many people, once they discover the pleasures of collecting rich flavored teas from companies like Teavana (rather than the standard orange pekoe and black teas you buy in most grocery stores) may spend several hundred dollars on teas every year. Let's talk about ways to save money.
First of all, if you are brewing your own teas at home (and most of us do) you can infuse the same bag or loose tea leaves 2-3 times. Standard orange pekoe and black teas, processed before packaging, may lose their strength more quickly than the more expensive teas but you can double up on tea bags, using a new bag to strengthen the flavor of a previously used tea bag.
Teas don't release their best flavors on the first infusion. The second infusion is usually the best, but even a third infusion can be enjoyable if you are drinking a rich or very sweet tea. You may need to allow it to steep longer or double up with another tea bag or serving.
Never heat water for tea to the boiling point. You want it to be hot enough to release a little steam but not so hot that the water is at maximum heat. Experts disagree on when you should infuse the tea. Some people say it's okay to drop a bag in a mug, pour in water, and then microwave it for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes; other people say you should infuse the tea after heating the water.
Now that you have learned to infuse tea economically, let's look at real savings. Not all your gourmet teas should come from Teavana. You may find a gourmet tea store near your city, especially if there is a large Asian community in your area. Asian immigrants love their teas and in larger cities like Houston, Seattle, and San Francisco you can often find good tea shops that cater to more experienced tastes. Their gourmet teas may be less expensive than at the major tea chains in the malls.
But if you have to buy your teas at the major chains, don't fret. Search the Internet for sources of coupons for tea. Yes, you can find them online, as well as articles that explain how to find great deals and discounts on teas.
You can also find coupons for standard teas, like Tetley tea coupons that you can use in almost any grocery store. Some people mix their gourmet teas with the store-bought teas to make them last longer; of course, you have to enjoy the flavor of your tea. Herbal teas are not really made from tea leaves and you may not want to mix herbal teas with major tea brands.
Finally, you may be able to find some gourmet tea blends in major discount grocery chains or warehouse clubs like Sam's, Costco, and BJs.
Tea is a great beverage and you'll be pleased to learn there are some real benefits to drinking green tea. Of course, what you may not know is that all true teas come from the same species of tea tree; the name of the tea "green" or "black" depends on how the tea is harvested and processed. And, yes, there really is "tea picked by monkeys" but you'll be better off looking for more affordable teas.
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