How to Prepare and Drink Dark Tea
Here are some of the most popular ways to prepare dark tea varieties.
Dark Tea Preparation Methods
| Method | Ingredients | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Brewing | Dark tea and cold or mineral water | Rinse with boiling water, then brew in cold water for one day |
| Milk Tea | Dark tea and milk | Combine traditionally brewed tea with an equal amount of milk |
| Honey Dark Tea | Dark tea and honey | Add honey after the tea cools to 50–60°C |
| Chrysanthemum Dark Tea | Dark tea and chrysanthemum | Combine at a 3:1 ratio and brew together |
| Chinese Wolfberry Tea | Dark tea and Chinese wolfberries | Add several wolfberries to the tea |
| Lemon Infusion | Dark tea, lemon, and optional sugar or honey | Mix the ingredients and refrigerate |
| Flower Infusion | Dark tea and flowers | Add rose, jasmine, osmanthus, or lavender |
| Dried Tangerine Peel Tea | Dark tea and dried tangerine peel | Brew the ingredients together |
| Fruit Dark Tea | Dark tea and fruit | Add fruit to brewed tea and refrigerate |
| Frozen Dark Tea | Dark tea | Cool and freeze the brewed tea |
Cold Brewing
Use cold water or mineral water. Begin by rinsing the tea with boiling water. Place the rinsed tea at the bottom of a cold-water bottle and allow it to brew at room temperature for one day. Refill the water as needed.
Milk Tea
Brew the dark tea traditionally, then combine it with an equal amount of milk. Dark tea creates a smooth and delightful milk tea with a sweet aftertaste. Pair it with fried rice, yellow beans, cheese, or beef according to personal preference.
Honey Dark Tea
The practice of adding ingredients such as milk, salt, and honey to tea dates back to the Tang Dynasty. To make modern honey dark tea, add honey to cold black tea for a sweet but not greasy flavor. Add the honey when the tea reaches approximately 50–60°C.
Chrysanthemum Dark Tea
Combine dark tea and chrysanthemum at a 3:1 ratio and brew them together. Chrysanthemum clears body heat, while mild dark tea enhances its benefits. This combination suits people with excess body heat.
Chinese Wolfberry
Add several Chinese wolfberries to dark tea. The wolfberries promote eyesight, while dark tea provides anti-radiation effects. Together, they complement each other and suit students and office workers who frequently use computers.
Lemon Infusions
Mix dark tea with lemon juice or lemon slices. Add sugar or honey to create a balanced sweet-and-sour flavor, then refrigerate the tea for a better taste. Lemon and dark tea cool the body and aid digestion, making this combination suitable for summer.
Flower Infusions
Add flowers such as rose, jasmine, osmanthus, or lavender to dark tea. The flowers add mellowness and elegance while creating a healthful and soothing atmosphere. This combination suits people who appreciate beauty and romance.
Dried Tangerine Peel
Add dried tangerine peel to dark tea to create a slightly bitter flavor. This combination aids in reducing phlegm and suppressing coughs, making it suitable for people who want to protect their respiratory tract.
Fruit Dark Tea
Inspired by British tea traditions, this method combines brewed dark tea with fruits such as cantaloupe. Add the fruit to the tea and chill it in the refrigerator before serving. This preparation suits people who enjoy following the latest trends.
Frozen Dark Tea
Cool and freeze brewed dark tea to create a refreshing iced drink. Frozen dark tea quenches thirst and provides protection from sunstroke, with stronger effects when served frozen.
Alex
