Preparing tea is an artful exercise in simplicity that, to paraphrase the words of the Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu, consists of nothing but boiling water, brewing the tea, and serving. While these words indeed capture the spirit of tea, preparing any of the hundreds of teas available requires keen attention and knowledge. Making a delicious cup of tea is a dance of tea leaves infused with their own melody, the amount of water used, water temperature, the time of infusion, and the brewing devise the tea is brewed in. Following the correct directions for a tea can make a tea that's less extraordinary, taste extraordinary, while brewing a rare, expensive tea incorrectly can lead to a bitter, unpleasant infusion.