Since I began writing about tea last Fall, I’ve had a lot of experience working with tea. What I have found is that there are less obvious, but entirely effective, ways to ruin tea than some of the more common mistakes (such as using too much leaf or too-hot water). I’d like to warn you of these “enemies of good tea”:
1. Musty-Smelling Teaware
Moisture gets trapped in teaware (i.e. teapots, gaiwans, etc) and smelly bacteria ensues. Stinky teaware=funky smelling/tasting tea.
The Remedy: Let your teaware air-dry, unlidded, overnight if you aren’t going to be using it right after washing. Always give your teaware a sniff before infusing some tea. If it smells stale or musty, wash it again!
2. Scent-Transfer from Towels
Kitchen towels can impart odors to teaware. Sniff your towels: Do they smell of fabric softener? Laundry detergent? Kitchen odors? Or are they just stale from being used on dishes? Whatever the cause, that nasty odor is going to end up on your teaware and in your tea.
The Remedy: Either switch to unscented laundry soap and fabric softener, or wash the towels that you use for teaware separately and using only unscented detergent.
3. Contaminated Filters
Water filter cartridges that have been “used up”, and water tanks/pitchers that have not been washed, can impart a bad flavor to your tea.
The Remedy: Change your water filters every few weeks and be sure to wash filter pitchers regularly. Remember to take out the filter cartridge before washing the pitcher, though…you don’t want your water being filtered through dish soap!
4. Refrigerator Odors
If you store your water filter pitcher, or even your bottled water, in a smelly fridge, eventually the water will become contaminated.
The Remedy: Keep your refrigerator clean and try to avoid storing filter pitchers with water in them in the fridge. For the best cup of tea, fill your filter pitcher with fresh water for each tea-brewing session.
4. Bad Ice
Stinky water from unclean ice machines, bad water from the tap, and/or a smelly freezer will give you bad tasting/smelling ice for your iced tea.
The Remedy: Use filtered water in ice trays, keep your freezer & ice maker clean.
4. Plastic Infusers and Pitchers
Plastic infusers and pitchers for ice tea have a serious drawback: The plastic can become impregnated with scent that can then infuse back into subsequent batches of tea.
The Remedy: If you are using plastic teaware, consider reserving it for unscented teas only. If you use it for scented teas anyway, be sure to clean the teaware thoroughly after use: For example, don’t leave your tea leaves sitting in an infuser. Scrape out the leaves and wash the infuser in hot, soapy water right away.
Incidentally, citrus and cinnamon oils can really do a number on plastic teaware. I recommend avoiding the use of plastic teaware with any tea scented with these oils.
5. Stinky Hands
When you are lifting a cup of tea to your face, your nose is not only going to smell the tea, but also your hands. Stinky hands=funky smelling tea.
Stinky hands can be caused by the following: Handling kitchen sponges/dishrags, preparing food, using towels contaminated with fabric softener, washing with scented soaps and/or using scented hand lotion.
The Remedy: Wash your hands with unscented soap before preparing and/or drinking tea.
6. Environmental/Personal Care Scents
Are you burning scented candles,wearing scented body lotion or perfume, or using flavored lip gloss or balm? This can affect your ability to properly appreciate the fragrance of your tea.
The Remedy: Avoid using scented products when preparing and drinking tea, and avoid serving tea in a room that is heavily scented.
7. Recycled Tea Containers
While reusing tea-tins is great for the environment, residual scents from teas can contaminate other teas stored in the same container.
The Remedy: Tea tins may require several washings to remove all fragrance. I advise this process for cleansing tea tins of fragrance:
- Wash the tea tin with a good grease-killing detergent such as Dawn.
- Manually scrub the tin with a brush or abrasive sponge (to remove oil residue).
- Fill the tin with distilled white vinegar and letting it soak for a bit.
- Rinse the tin, wash it again, and let it air out for a day or two. P
- Put the cover on the tin, let it sit for three days, open it, and sniff. If you can still smell fragrance, repeat the cleaning process until the tin has no scent after being closed up for three days.
8. Storing Flavored and Unflavored Teas Together
You probably already know the importance of storing teas away from spices, cleaning supplies,and other strong scents. But it is just important to make sure that scented teas don’t contaminate unscented teas.
The Remedy: Store your tea in airtight containers, and keep scented teas and unscented teas in different areas.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Another one is if you are doing very strong smelling stuff in your kitchen while brewing, the tea can pick up the scent – like making garlicky pesto! Experience here! And if you just had something strong tasting to eat, the tea will taste funny – have a trisquit first.
.-= Marlena´s last blog ..Diamond tea bags =-.
Great Tips Lainie.
I wonder if you’re planning on tasting any Tea Java White or Baby Green Tea ?
I have some downstairs and thought of having it later today cold.
yes I know. but I like my tea cold and sweet in the summer;
and hot and sweet in the colder months. but I Always Like My Tea ; )
Good post! I have to take these into account, sometimes it is a little funky but I’m not sure why, I’ll be keeping an eye out now
.-= Pat Canella´s last blog ..Review: Xantou Mandarin Green Pu-erh – New Mexico Tea Company =-.
Good point on keeping tea pots dry. I have found that using different types of water changes the tea. For example, tap water vs. bottled water.
What I always thought was so weird is that European countries never wash out their tea kettles. I guess leaving the residue in the kettle helps out the flavor. Good tips though!
.-= Micah´s last blog ..Samsung RFG293 Refrigerator Review =-.