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Alright, let’s talk about brewing this white tea, you know, the fancy stuff. My old man, he always said, “Don’t go burnin’ the leaves, woman!” He was a stubborn one, but he knew his tea, I’ll give him that.

So, first things first, ya gotta heat up the water. But don’t go gettin’ it all crazy boilin’ hot, like you’re makin’ coffee or somethin’. This ain’t no coffee, this is delicate, like a newborn baby’s skin, gotta be gentle with it. They say 175 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit is the sweet spot. Now, I don’t have one of them fancy thermometers, never did. I just eyeball it. When the water starts singin’ a little, you know, little bubbles comin’ up, but not a big ol’ rolling boil, then it’s about right. If it does boil, just let it cool down a bit, maybe count to 300, that should do it.

Now, for the steeping, that’s important too. Don’t just dump the water in and yank the leaves out right away, that ain’t gonna do nothin’. You gotta let them leaves swim around in the hot water, release all their goodness. They say 3 to 6 minutes is good, but it really depends on how strong you like your tea. Me, I like it kinda in the middle, not too weak, not too strong, just right. So, I usually let it sit for about 4 minutes, maybe 5 if I’m feelin’ fancy.

• Water Temperature: Around 175-180°F (that’s when the water starts singin’, remember?)
• Steeping Time: 3-6 minutes (I go for 4 or 5, but you do you).

And another thing, don’t go usin’ the same leaves over and over again, thinkin’ you’re savin’ money. That’s just gonna give you weak, tasteless water. Each batch of leaves, they got their one good steepin’ in ’em. After that, they’re done, throw ’em out, give ’em to the chickens, they don’t care. My chickens, they love them tea leaves.

Now, some folks, they like to get all scientific about it, measurin’ this and that, fussin’ over every little degree. That’s fine for them, I guess. But me, I like to keep it simple. Hot water, not too hot, tea leaves, let ’em steep, and that’s it. It ain’t rocket science, it’s tea.

And don’t go blamin’ the tea if it don’t taste right. Maybe your water’s bad, maybe you burned the leaves, maybe you didn’t steep it long enough. There’s a lot of things that can go wrong, you know. Just gotta keep tryin’ till you get it right. My neighbor, Mrs. Gable, she always boils the water too hot, then wonders why her tea tastes like burnt socks. I told her, I said, “Mrs. Gable, you gotta be gentle with the leaves!” But she never listens, stubborn as a mule, that one.

So there you have it, that’s how I make my white tea. It ain’t fancy, it ain’t complicated, but it’s good. And that’s all that matters, right? A good cup of tea to warm you up on a cold day, or cool you down on a hot one. It’s a comfort, you know, like an old blanket or a warm fire. And that’s something everyone needs, a little comfort in their lives.

One last thing, don’t go storin’ them leaves in a sunny window neither. Keep ‘em in a dark, cool place, like you would with your good flour or sugar. Sunlight, it’ll steal all the flavor right outta them leaves, and then you’ll just be drinkin’ hot water with a little bit of somethin’ in it, but it won’t taste right. Treat your tea leaves right, and they’ll treat you right back, with a nice, tasty cup.

Tags: white tea, brewing, temperature, tea leaves, steeping, hot water, tea preparation