This recipe is extremely convenient because the concentrate can be made ahead of time.

Estimating the Number of Cups of Tea and
Determining the Amount of Loose Tea and Water
Items needed for this recipe:
Step-by-Step Instructions.

Estimating the Number of Cups of Tea and
Determining the Amount of Loose Tea and Water

1. What is the time-length of the event? The longer the event, the more tea will be consumed.
2. Are other beverages being offered? If you are also serving water, coffee, lemonade or any other beverage, this will reduce the amount of tea consumed.
3. Is the tea a “sit-down tea” or a “tea reception?”
   Example: At a “sit-down tea,” guests consume much more tea than at a “tea reception.” For example, at The Cultured Cup’s “Sit Down” Tea Class, where only tea is offered as a beverage, 20 people consume almost 5 gallons of tea in 2½ hours. That translates into an average of five cups consumed per person - an enormous amount of tea. If your guests consume three cups of tea per person, that is a lot of tea. Estimate on the high side.
4. How many guests do you anticipate?
5. How many cups of tea do you estimate each person will drink?
6. To determine the total number of cups of tea needed, multiply the number of guests X the number of estimated cups per person.
7. Using the following chart, determine how much loose tea and filtered water will be needed:
   
   

   Number of 6 oz. Cups Needed	Amount of Loose Tea Needed	Closest Ounce Equivalent of Tea Needed	Amount of Filtered or Spring Water Needed
   10	3 Tablespoons	1 oz.	(about ½ gallon) 60 oz.
   25	½ Cup	2 oz.	(about 1¼ gal.) 150 oz.
   50	1 Cup	4 oz.	(about 2? gal.) 300 oz.
   75	1½ Cups	6 oz.	(about 3½ gal.) 450 oz.
   100	2 Cups	8 oz.	(about 4? gal.) 600 oz .

Items needed for this recipe:

• Two stainless or enameled stock pots with lids. Do not use aluminum.
• Or a large water kettle
• Filtered or spring water
• A good quality, loose black tea (not packed)
• Two heavily insulated hot pad mitts
• Large stainless steel spoon
• Large mesh colander or sieve lined with rinsed culinary cheese cloth or unfolded paper coffee filters
• A stainless steel soup ladle

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Several hours before the event, bring half of the water to a boil in one of the stock pots. Tip: If you are making a large amount of tea, use two large kettles for the tea concentrate and two additional kettles for the remaining hot water. Doing this will enable you to more easily pour the tea concentrate through the colander.
2. Immediately after the water reaches a boil, turn off the heat source.
3. Add all black tea to stock pot.
4. Stir tea with a large spoon and cover pot.
5. Steep tea for 4½ minutes. Do not over steep the tea.
6. While tea is steeping, line a large mesh colander with several layers of rinsed cheesecloth or paper coffee filters.
7. Rest lined mesh colander into second stock pot.
8. Wearing hot pad mitts, carefully and slowly pour tea concentrate through colander.
9. Cover tea concentrate.
10. One half hour before event, bring other half of water to boil in second stock pot.
11. If necessary, put tea concentrate stock pot on lowest stove setting.
12. To serve tea, ladle equal portions of Tea Concentrate and boiling water into warmed teapots.
    
    NOTE: This recipe can easily be multiplied for larger events.