Alright, let’s talk about steeping white tea, you know, the kind that looks all pale and kinda fancy. Ain’t nobody got time for complicated stuff, so I’ll make it plain and simple, just like how I like my tea.

First off, ya gotta get yourself some white tea. Now, there’s different kinds, I hear. Some look like little leaves, some got buds mixed in. Don’t matter too much. The important thing is gettin’ the water right.

• You don’t want it boilin’ hot, ya hear? Like, when it’s screamin’ and bubblin’ like a mad kettle. That’ll just burn the tea and make it taste bitter, like somethin’ you accidentally swallowed when you were cleaning the barn.
• You want it hot, but not too hot. Kinda like…hmm…how you heat up water for a baby’s bath. Warm enough to make ya feel cozy, but not so hot it’ll scald ya.

Okay, now for the steepin’ part. This ain’t like them other teas, the green ones or the black ones. Them you just dunk and pull out quick. White tea, it needs time. It’s like a good stew, gotta let it simmer to get all the flavors out.

So, how long? Well, I say about 5 or 6 minutes should do the trick. Give or take, you know. If you like it strong, go a little longer. If you like it weak, a little shorter. It ain’t rocket science. Just use your common sense, the kind they don’t teach ya in them fancy schools.

Now, how much tea to use? That depends on how much water you got. I figure, if you got a mug about this big (gestures with hand), you know, the kinda mug you use for your mornin’ coffee, then you need about two spoonfuls of them tea leaves. If your tea has them little buds in it, maybe use a little less, like one and a half spoonfuls.

And listen, don’t go usin’ them little teaspoons you stir your sugar with. I’m talkin’ about real spoons, like the ones you eat your soup with. Tablespoons, they call ’em, I think.

So, you got your hot water, you got your tea leaves, you got your mug. Now what? Well, you put the tea in the mug, then you pour the hot water over it. And then you wait. That’s the hardest part, the waiting. It’s like waiting for the rain in the middle of a drought, takes forever.

You can sit there and twiddle your thumbs, or you can do somethin’ useful, like sweep the floor or feed the chickens. But keep an eye on the clock, you don’t want to forget about it and end up with tea so strong it’ll make your hair curl.

And when the time’s up, you gotta get them tea leaves outta there. You can use a strainer if you got one, or you can just pour the tea real careful into another cup, leaving the leaves behind. Whatever works for you.

Now, some folks say white tea is good for you. They say it’s got all them ant-eye-ox-see-dents, whatever them are. They say it helps your heart and keeps you from gettin’ fat and sick. I don’t know about all that. All I know is, it tastes good and it warms me up on a cold day. And it ain’t like that green tea, makes my tummy rumble all day long after I drink it.

Some of those doctors in the city talk about how long someone can stand on one leg means they’re getting old. Hmph, I guess they’ve never had to stand on a bucket to milk a cow or reach the high shelf. Standing on one leg ain’t no problem for an old lady like me. Same goes for brewing tea, you don’t need no fancy timer, you just feel it.

So there you have it. That’s how you steep white tea, the way I do it anyways. It ain’t perfect, but it’s good enough for me. And if it ain’t good enough for you, well, then you can just go find yourself another way. Life’s too short to drink bad tea, and too short to listen to folks tell you how to live.

Just remember, hot water, not too hot, the right amount of tea, and plenty of patience. That’s the secret to a good cup of white tea. And maybe a little bit of honey, if you like it sweet. But that’s up to you.

Tags: [white tea, steeping, brewing, tea leaves, tea preparation, tea time, hot water, healthy beverage, antioxidants]