What does "steeping tea" mean?!
What does "steeping tea" mean?
Answers:
to "steep" tea is to let the teabag sit in very hot water (in the cup or pot) until it fully brews, usually covered to keep the steam in
To steep means to let the tea bag soak.
It means letting the tea bag sit in the boiled water for a little while, so it can become nice and strong. Too long, though, and the tea will have a bitter taste due to the tannins.
To steep tea is to allow the water to leach out the flavor. Here's what happens:
When the tea leaves are submersed into water, the heat from the water opens pores in the dried leaf. As the pores open, the tea leaf acts like a sponge sucking in the water. Eventually the tea is so full of water it can't take in any more, but it is still in the water so, it expels some water to take in more. The water that is expelled from the tea leaf is taking some of the tea and other nutrients with it. According to the British tea experts it takes 5 minutes for plain hot water to suck all the tea-y goodness out of the dried tea.
This is the basic principal behind soup, and marinating meat.
Tea is made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush in hot water for a few minutes.