7 tips for bringing tea to the office

Small guide to drinking good tea even at work

Summer is coming to an end, and with it the vacations and hot days that have kept so many of us away from kettles and steaming cups of tea for some time. Now, however, the craving is coming back: the arrival of autumn, in fact, evokes not only a return to work, but also cooler temperatures, perfect for getting back to sipping hot tea during the day and being enveloped in its aromas.

But do we have to wait until we get home from work in the evening to enjoy good tea? Absolutely not! Drinking good tea at the office is possible, and it is also a great resource for staying focused and relaxed at the same time, combating re-entry stress. In this short article we will give you some tips on how you can do this in an easy and pleasant way.

The pleasure of infusing the moment

For those who want to infuse their leaf tea right in the office, taking advantage of those few minutes off for a moment that becomes almost a little Zen exercise, there are must-have tools and some tips to keep in mind.

1. Obtain a graduated kettle.
   Not the kind that just brings water to a boil, but one that allows you to select the desired temperature. If you are fortunate enough to already have one in the office, this is a good thing; otherwise, better to invest in a small personal kettle with a delta of at least 10°C to be able to infuse the different types of tea at the correct temperatures. A kettle that allows you to select 70-80-90°C would be perfect. We always advise against boiling the water, even for red/black teas and fermented teas, as you will be taking away valuable oxygen, impairing the end result in the cup.

2. Choose appropriate teaware .
   A basic glass or ceramic tea set is perfect, as these are the easiest materials to clean and lend themselves to infusing all types of tea. For Western-style infusing, we recommend bringing along a set with a cup and teapot. The size of the teapot is up to you: if you like to sip the same kind of tea for a long time (or if you want to let your colleagues taste it!), go ahead and opt for a medium-to-large sized teapot – space permitting, of course.
   
   On the other hand, if you prefer to enjoy several different teas and try different flavors, or simply drink less, for your office tea you can choose a smaller teapot or directly a ceramic mug with an infuser inside already included and removable (so it can be easily rinsed). You can find many in porcelain in our store, but for those who like to see the color of the tea shine through, there are also excellent all-glass infusers with integrated filter.
   
   For those who want to infuse the oriental at work as well, there are excellent gong fu cha sets that include gaiwan, gongdaobei (or cha hai) and cups. They take up little space and are very practical to use and wash.

4. Use the “right” water.
   Water makes up 99.9 percent of your cup of tea, and a key element for a good brew: therefore, what characteristics should water have to make good tea?
   – Slightly acidic PH, ranging from 6.2 to 6.8
   – Low fixed residue, i.e. <50mg/liter or at least <100mg/liter
   – Fresh, oxygen-rich water, so not boiled water
   
   There are brands of mineral water that meet all these parameters, but if you already use a filter jug at work that one may be fine. Avoid using tap water unless it has already been filtered with a special purification system: tap water is not only extremely limey, but it is also rich in elements such as chlorine and heavy metals, which besides being bad for you will ruin the taste of your tea.

5. Choose some excellent leaf tea!
   To brew good tea at the office, select types of tea that you like and that are easy to infuse, without risk of developing excessive bitterness or astringency if accidentally forgotten to steep for longer than expected (the phone rings, your manager summons you to her office, a colleague wants to show you an email he received–the unexpected at work is always just around the corner!).
   
   Which teas to choose?
   There are some teas that do not easily develop bitterness or astringency, such as white tea, many oolongs, and some Japanese green teas. We suggest a few that can lend themselves well to “distracted” infusions and remain delicious and enjoyable even if you forget to steep them a few seconds too long:
   
   – Tè bianco, come il delicato Silver Needle o il dolce e fruttato Bai Mu Dan
   – Tè oolong a bassa ossidazione, come il cinese Tie Guan Yin o il Jin Xuan da Taiwan, dal gusto fresco e floreale
   – Tè oolong ad alta ossidazione per chi ama i sapori più corposi e avvolgenti, come il tè di roccia Rou Gui
   – Tè verdi giapponesi, come il Genmaicha, arricchito da chicchi di riso, oppure il tè verde tostato Hojicha dalle note nocciolate, che oltretutto è povero di caffeina e vi permette di berne in abbondanza anche se siete particolarmente sensibili a questa sostanza.

6. Adopt convenient methods to weigh leaf tea
   How to manage the correct amount of leaf tea even in the office? There are several options. If you have sufficient space and time, you can keep a small precision balance in your desk drawer (they take up very few inches, less than a calculator). Another solution is to weigh your tea at home: knowing the capacity of the teapot or cup you will use to brew it, weighing it first is a good way to save time at the office. If you do not have the option of filtering the tea, you can also refill at home by yourself some empty tea bags with the tea you want, so that you can infuse the desired amount directly into your cup: it is not the most orthodox method, but it is very convenient and will allow you not to give up tea time during the day! Finally, there are pre-portioned teas for a single person, such as the mini bricks of white tea and tangerine peels, i mini-battons of Shou Mei white tea with jasmine or the mini-portions of puer sheng tea Wu Liang Origin. A single pod or brick of pressed leaves is already the perfect amount for a mug or small teapot-an option that makes infusing tea in the office quick and easy, allowing you to enjoy the sight, aromas, and flavors of the whole leaves.

Infuse at home, sip at the office

If you prefer to brew your tea at home, quietly, and once you get to your desk you don’t want to have any thoughts other than sipping it in peace, here is our 7th tip: you can safely use a thermos. This will allow you to carry your ready-made tea with you, keeping it at a temperature for many hours.

On the other hand, if you want to infuse tea in the office, but space is at a premium, there are also the thermos with filter: in our online store you can find different types of them.

As we have seen, then, tea can be a great companion for the whole day-just gear up and you can take it with you and enjoy it anywhere, including the office.