Food Safety First

Recipe of the Week Hot or iced, proper tea prepartion optimizes its quality and flavor.
There is an art to brewing the perfect cup of tea. In fact, iced tea not only requires special brewing equipment, but several factors like water quality, proper equipment maintenance and tea leaf freshness affect tea's optimal flavor.

Tea has a water content of 99 percent, so naturally, the perfect brew starts with quality water. Operators should use only filtered water that will benefit not only the tea taste and quality, but also the tea brewing equipment. For example, in areas that have water with a high mineral content, the electrical heating equipment can become insulated with the minerals, which inhibit the brewer's heating capacity, explains Mauro Mordini, manager of technical and customer operations at Lipton Foodservice, Englewood, N .J . Water quality can also be affected by chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. Where hardness is excessive, operators should use softened water.

Tips for Perfect Tea

  1. When brewing tea, use water between 195°F - 205°F and brew for 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Discard unused tea after 8 hours.
  3. Clean and sanitize tea brewing and storage equipment at least once a day.
  4. Install the proper water filtration and conditioning equipment to assure the best tastingwater.
  5. Store tea leaves and tea bags in a dry, cool place away from foods with strong smells and odors.
Source: Tea Association of the USA, Inc.; (212) 986-9415 A second consideration in making the optimal brew is the brewing temperature, which should be between 195°F to 205°F, with a minimum steeping time of 3 to 5 minutes. To assure the correct temperature is being reached, a weekly check of equipment - with a calibrated thermometer - is recommended. Brewing tea at the correct temperature is so important that the latest Lipton tea-bag extraction systems offer a temperature lockout feature that prevents the brewer from working until it reaches the appropriate temperature (195°F to 205°F). Additionally, the machine will hold the brew temperature of 195°F for one minute before dispensing, providing an adequate thermal treatment to ensure safety.

While freshly brewed iced tea is more common, many consumers enjoy drinking hot tea. The Tea Association of the USA, Inc. in New York City, recommends boiling water be poured directly over the tea and brewed for 3 to 5 minutes. Afresh tea-bag and cup should be offered for a second helping. At only 2 to 3 cents per serving, hot tea provides a restaurant a very cost effective manner with which to make a good impression with a customer.

Note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although there have been media reports claiming that tea is unsafe and contains E. coli bacteria, there has never been a confirmed outbreak associated with iced tea.

For more information about proper tea preparation and equipment sanitization procedures, contact Lipton Foodservice at (800) 884-4841.

 
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