My mother-in-law gave me some really nice loose-leaf tea, but I was too embarrassed to tell her I didn't know how to make it. Help!

The good news is your mother-in-law just gave you a big, fat hint about what she loves, so finding the perfect gift for her just got a wee bit easier for you.

To be honest, I drink tea occasionally, but I never really paid attention to the finer points of brewing. So I called Elizabeth Stephano of Octavia Tea to find out how to make a proper pot. For starters, you need some fairly basic equipment, like a kettle to boil water in, a teapot, and some type of strainer to hold the tea. I use a tea ball, but you can use a tea wand, fill-your-own tea bags, or a filter basket (which Stephano recommends for beginners). You also need to know how many cups your teapot holds. To figure it out, fill the teapot with water and pour the water into a measuring cup. Voila!

Brewing tea isn’t brain surgery, but Stephano said it's essential to use good quality water. Soft or hard water can add a chemical-like taste, so use bottled spring water if your tap water has issues.

Scoop 1 to 2 teaspoons of tea (per one 8-ounce cup of water) into the infuser and drop it into the teapot. After the water comes to a boil, let it sit for a minute -- scalding-hot water can change the flavor of the tea. When the water is ready, pour it into the teapot and over the infuser. Let the tea steep for about 3 1/2 minutes. Herbal teas can brew as long as 8-10 minutes without turning bitter, and some delicate teas (like white or green) brew in as little as 1 minute, but it’s mostly a matter of personal preference. The 3 1/2-minute mark is a good average time to start with. Generally, most teas will turn bitter if brewed longer than 6 minutes, so if you want a stronger cup, simply use more loose tea -- don’t let it steep longer.

Brewing iced tea is another option. Because cold mutes the flavor (this is true for any food or beverage), use double the amount of loose tea (3 to 4 teaspoons per one 8-ounce cup) when you brew a pot. But don’t put a hot pot of tea directly into the refrigerator. This turns the tea cloudy, so let it cool to room temperature before icing or refrigerating. You can also pour leftover or room temperature tea into ice cube trays and freeze. Instead of using regular ice, which dilutes the flavor of the tea when it melts, use the tea cubes.

And don’t forget about that massive mother-in-law hint. It’s basic human nature for us to give gifts we like. Whether she meant to or not, your MIL's gift of tea tells you what kind of little presents she likes. You’ll score major points when you bring her interesting teacups or accessories, or unusual tea blends to try.

-- Colleen Rush

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