Tech Time for Tea

Tea-making is something many cultures take very seriously. The Chinese and Japanese, in particular, have highly developed tea cultures with tea-making ceremonies that are akin to performances. The British, of course, revere tea-making and drinking.

The key to a good cup of tea, apart from the quality of leaves, are steeping times and the temperature of the water. Immersed for too long in the water and the tannin in the tea leeches out, leaving a bitter brew. Dunked in water that is too hot and the delicate leaves will burn resulting in the same thing – a bitter tea.

Thankfully, technology has stepped in to make sure tea drinkers the world around have the right tools to get the temperature just right for that perfect cup of tea!

Precision Technology - Temperature-setting Kettle

Different teas require not only different steeping times but also different temperatures at which to steep. Boiling water is actually too hot for most teas since the amino acids which give the tea its sweet taste dissolves at a lower temperature than tannin.

Black and red teas, for example, need the water to be at about 96 degrees Celsius; yellow tea and Oolong, 90 degrees; white tea, 80 to 85 degrees; and green tea, 65 to 80 degrees. With such precision required, you need more than a regular kettle.

The streamline, cone-shaped stainless steel Bugatti VERA Kettle (S$488) is a temperature-regulating kettle. It lets you select the exact temperature you need to set the water to boil. It even has a clock to let you set the time you want the water to boil. All the controls are on its slim handle, making it easy to manage.

Hassle-free Hot Water - Temperature-controlled Airpots

Tea loves oxygen. It helps develop the flavours. So, only use fresh-drawn water from the tap for boiling water for your tea. Re-boiled water has reduced amounts of oxygen. If the idea of boiling water to the right temperature every time you want a pick-me-up cup of tea is not your cup of tea, consider getting an airpot that keeps your water continually at the right temperature.

The Taiyo Electric Thermo Pot (S$89) comes with three pre-set temperatures that are just what you need - 65, 85 and 95 degree Celsius. Able to hold up to 3.8 litres, you can have endless cups of tea all day long with this airpot.

One-touch Wonder - Tea Maker

If you fancy something hassle-free, you might want to consider investing in a tea maker. Nestle offers two systems of making tea akin to their coffee-making capabilities. Using tea capsules, the Nespresso (S$238 – S$467) and the Nescafe Dulce Gusto (S$229) offer portioned premium tea at the touch of a button.

The most important difference between the two systems is the type of capsules each uses. The Nespresso capsules let you have pure tea sans milk and sugar, allowing you to customise your tea to your taste. The Nescafe Dulce Gusto has designer concoctions like lattes and peach tea that are great for pampering yourself.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf also has its own tea makers. The Kaldi (S$339), for example, can accommodate both coffee and tea capsules. Like the Nespresso, the teas are without milk or sugar, allowing you to enjoy their natural flavours.

Tea is probably one of the oldest drinks in the world enjoyed by billions. With modern technology, the traditional cuppa is that much easier to enjoy. So, go ahead, take time for some tea, courtesy of technology.

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