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To brew the perfect cup of tea, begin with cold spring or filtered water (to add body and enrich flavor), then carefully monitor the heating process, since this will affect the overall taste. If you prefer your tea decaf, heed this tip from Kathryn Petty, president of the White Lion Tea Company: "To decaffeinate tea, pour boiling water over the leaves as normal and let sit one minute. Then pour the liquid down the drain and use the same leaves to make a fresh cup. Because caffeine is the first thing released into the water as it steeps, you will have just tossed ninety percent of it out."

Here's how to brew your favorite tea:

Black Tea

Leaf Treatment: Fully oxidized (the natural process that turns the leaves brown or black)

Brewing Temperature: 205 to 210 degrees (billowing steam and large chain of bubbles)

Steeping Time: 4-5 minutes

Green Tea

Leaf Treatment: Allowed to wither, then steamed or heated, but not allowed to oxidize

Brewing Temperature: About 175 degrees (column of steam and big bubbles breaking the surface of the water); green tea will taste stewed if brewed too hot

Steeping Time: 3-4 minutes

Oolong Tea

Leaf Treatment: Oxidized anywhere from eight to 85 percent

Brewing Temperature: 180 to 195 degrees (steam clouds and chain of bubbles rising)

Steeping Time: At least 5 minutes

Pu-erh Tea

Leaf Treatment: Fermented during processing

Brewing Temperature: 212 degrees (billowing steam and boiling bubbles); but be careful not to overboil, as this drives out oxygen and leaves the flavor flat

Steeping Time: To taste (good for consecutive steepings)

White Tea

Leaf Treatment: Sun-dried immediately after picking or taken indoors and heated at low temperature

Brewing Temperature: 160 to 170 degrees (gentle steam and small bubbles just beginning to ascend)

Steeping Time: 3-4 minutes