Whether you're a multi-tasking super parent, a workplace warrior, or simply a person that breathes, you deserve a moment to relax.

“In the practice of tea, a sanctuary is created where one can take solace in the tranquility of the spirit —Sen Soshitsu XV

Making time to decompress helps improve productivity, and makes you mentally refreshed to support those that rely on you. From this wisdom came the custom of the afternoon tea break. From China to England people have turned to a relaxing cup of tea to calm the senses and find peace and clarity.

Recycle your old tea. Yes, tea does have a shelf life. That tin of tea you bought at Harrods in 1995 is past its prime. Toss the tea leaves on your garden and keep the tin as a memory of your London experience, or better yet, fill it with new tea from Raintree. Old tea won't hurt you, but it will taste flat and flavourless. 

Invest in a kettle  Let's get down to basics - if you want to make good tea, you have to have a proper kettle. Microwaves are not meant for brewing tea. You can invest as little as $20 for a simple electric kettle, or pick up a Zojurishi that sells for around $100 and doubles as a kettle or teapot and allows you to pre-set desired water temperatures. A good kettle will change your life!

Filter your water.  It boils down to this - get the chlorine and iron out of your water. A simple counter-top filter pitcher (e.g. Brita) will suffice. We use an under-the-counter two-stage filter at Raintree that you can purchase from Home Depot or Home Hardware for about $200. Avoid bottled distilled water because it has no minerals - and most spring waters because they have too much mineral content. Bottles marked as drinking water usually have the best balance of minerals for tea.   

Buy a teapot or two. Your tea will taste better if you brew it in a pot rather than a cup or mug. We have a wide variety of brewing vessels to choose from at Raintree for single brews, or larger pots for sharing tea with friends. Tea is the universal beverage that brings people together - and there is no better way to show hospitality than to share a pot of tea. 

Switch from tea bags to loose tea. The taste of loose tea is far superior to bagged teas (which are often comprised of nothing more than dust and filings). With so many infuser baskets, brewing pouches and other infusing devices, anyone can steep tea at home or in the office.

Water temperature matters. Each tea family has a optimum steeping temperature and time, but it can vary depending on the quality of the tea. Here's a simple guide to the five Raintree Tea families: Black tea: 1-2 minutes at 208 degrees; Green tea: 1 minute at 195 degrees; White tea: 1-2 minutes at 208 degrees; Herbal Infusions: 8-10 minutes at 208 degress; Raintree Signature & China Flair Artisan Teas: approximately 3-5 seconds at 208 degrees, depending on the type and style. 

Rinse your tea leaves. We recommend rinsing your tea leaves prior to making your first brew. Rinsing tea leaves removes any debris that may have settled on the leaves during shipping. Rinsing your leaves also improves the taste of your first brew, as it allows the tea leaves to open fully and breathe. Rinsing also reduces the amount of caffeine in your brew. Caffeine is more water-soluble than many of the other chemical components of tea leaves, so even a brief infusion in hot water can remove a remarkable amount of caffeine from the tea. The best technique for rinsing your tea leaves is to boil filtered water, then steep the dried leaves in boiled water for approximately 10 seconds, pour out the liquid and discard, keeping the wet leaves for your first "real brew" and subsequent infusions.

Recycle and reuse. We use our discarded tea water at Raintree to water our plants. You can also use discarded tea to water garden herbs and veggies and mix tea leaves into the soil around your garden for extra nutrients. Old, dry tea leaves make good insect repellents when sprinkled around your garden.