How should I brew this tea to bring out its flavour? — Organic Tea Women's Balance, 17 bags x 1.8 g – Yogi Tea GmbH

According to the instructions on the packaging, one tea bag is covered with 250 ml of boiling water. Water that is too cold will not bring out the herbal and spicy flavour.

The recommended steeping time is 7 minutes, and for a stronger flavour you can steep it for longer. The warm spicy notes of ginger, cinnamon and cardamom open up first, and closer to 7 minutes a softer herbal background appears — lemon balm, lavender, raspberry leaves. If steeped for a very long time, the taste may become more astringent and slightly bitter.

It is better not to squeeze the tea bag after brewing: this releases extra tannins and makes the taste more astringent than intended.

The tea is good without additions, but if you like, a small amount of honey emphasises the spicy sweetness of the cinnamon and cardamom without overpowering the herbal finish. Milk or cream changes the balance of flavours considerably — it is a matter of personal preference.

Store the tea bags in a dry place away from strong smells: the spicy ingredients easily absorb foreign aromas.