Gourmia GTC8000 - Tea-square Personal Brewing System Manual & Tea Recipes

FEATURES & FUNCTIONS

1. Tea-Square Base: The sleek and elegant Base is enclosed in a distinctive wood-style panel that evokes all the natural elements of the earth. The Base houses the unique Boil to Brew heating system, glass tea chamber, stainless steel strainer, glass serving carafe, pre-programmed control panel and water tank.
   The delicately designed Steam Vent opens on the top of the Base panel and while in operation, hands and face should be kept away. The glass carafe sits on the black Sensor Plate, which is part of the safety system. If the glass carafe is not on the Sensor Plate, the tea brewing system will not start.
2. Glass Tea Chamber: The Glass Tea Chamber and Extra Fine Stainless Steel Strainer are components of the finest tea filtering systems worldwide. The glass chamber holds the heat and resists impurities, while the extra fine stainless steel strainer traps the smallest pieces of loose tea. Together, they are a pure conduit for the hot water as it filters through the stainless steel strainer, infuses the tea and flows into the glass carafe.
3. Extra Fine Stainless Steel Strainer: This beautifully crafted strainer will hold a generous amount of loose tea leaves and, most importantly, will trap them effectively while hot water filters through them. The very fine mesh of this strainer holds even the smallest particles of tea and the stainless steel components in this strainer also ensure durability for endless cups of pure tea.
4. Glass Serving Carafe: Sparkling glass, one of earth's most beautiful elements, showcases tea like no other vessel. In addition to the beauty of this glass carafe, it is also designed to reduce impurities and off-flavors that accumulate in other types of carafes and tea pots. This carafe holds up to 4 cups of fresh-brewed tea and rests on the Sensor Plate of the Base.
5. Water Tank: With the lid cleverly built into the wood-style Base Panel, the Water Tank almost invisibly holds up to 4 cups water. Pour enough water into the tank to fill above the MIN line in the clear window and do not overfill with water past the MAX line in the same window.
   The water tank contains a discreet Drain Plug, located on the bottom of the side panel. See Maintenance (p. xx) for directions on removing the Drain Plug.
6. Pre-programmed Control Panel With choices for Refresh, Light, Medium or Strong brewed tea and a safety system warning, the Control Panel handily covers all the functions of the Tea-Square personal brewing system.

1. Start button: Press to Start the system operation. Press to Stop any operation at any time.
2. Refresh button: Press to begin the Refresh function before brewing tea. After pressing the Refresh button, a small amount of water is heated in the system and filtered over the tea leaves in the glass chamber. This first step rinses and refreshes the leaves for the fast infusion cycle to follow.
3. Lack Cup: If the glass carafe is not resting on the Sensor Plate when the system is positioned to start brewing, this light will turn red and delay the operation until the carafe is in place.
4. Light: Choose the Light button if you want very mild tea and a reduced amount of caffeine in your tea. White tea should always be brewed using the Light cycle, as should other tea blends that contain fragile ingredients. This cycle is the shortest and impacts the tea leaves lightly.
5. Medium: The Medium brew button will brew most teas with great success. The strength of the tea will be between Light and Strong and the flavor will be welldeveloped, without being pronounced. The Medium button will cycle longer than the Light button and shorter than the Strong button and will impact the tea leaves in a moderate, balanced fashion.
6. Strong: When brewing black tea or black tea blends, select this button for best results. The Strong cycle is also the longest and the loose tea leaves will be most impacted by this cycle. Press the Strong button when you desire to taste the full or complex flavors of your tea.

BEFORE FIRST USE & ASSEMBLY

1. Before using the Tea-Square for the first time, wipe the exterior of the Base with a damp cloth and mild soap. Dry with a soft towel.
2. In warm, sudsy water, clean the glass carafe, glass chamber and strainer. Dry well.
3. Pour up to 4 cups clear or filtered water into the Water Tank.
4. Plug the Tea-Square cord into the wall outlet. The Start button will illuminate in red.
5. Press the Start button again. The button will turn blue to indicate it is in Stand-by Mode.
6. The Lack Cup button will illuminate in red to indicate that the glass carafe is not in position on the Sensor Plate. This is part of the safety system of this unit.

BREWING YOUR CUP OF TEA

1. Fill the Water Tank with filtered or clear water up to the MAX fill line indicator on the Tank (fig 1 & 2).
   
2. Place the desired amount of loose tea leaves in the Stainless Steel Strainer (fig 2).
3. Place the filled Stainless Steel Strainer inside the Glass Chamber (fig 3 & 4).
   
4. Firmly holding the Glass Chamber Lip, slide the Glass Chamber on its tracks into position in the Base until it "clicks" into place (fig 5).
   
5. Place the Glass Carafe onto the black Sensor Plate (fig 6). The Lack Cup indicator will no longer be red.
   
6. Press the Refresh button. The button will light blue and the Tea-Square will begin the cycle. When the Refresh process is complete, the Tea-Square will automatically stop. The blue Refresh button will turn off (fig. 7).
   
7. Remove the Glass Carafe and discard the water. The tea leaves in the Strainer and Glass Chamber are rinsed, hydrated and now ready for brewing. Replace the Glass Carafe (fig. 8).
   
8. Press the button that corresponds to your choice of strength: Light, Medium or Strong. The button will turn blue to indicate that the process has started (fig. 9).
9. When the brewing is done, the Tea-Square will automatically turn off and the button will no longer be blue. Remove the tea-filled glass carafe and serve.

Brewing Your Cup of Coffee

To brew fresh coffee, use 2 tablespoons coarse ground coffee and follow the same directions above for Light, Medium or Strong brewed coffee.

Specialty Blended Tea Recipes

With over 3,000 types of tea from which to choose, creating your own favorite tea blends can now be an on-going passion! Many specialty retailers and online stores offer top-quality teas to start your process. Use the recipes here as your template for measurements or simply add ingredients to fit your own preferences.

Energy

East Indian Lemon Black Tean (Serves 1)

¼ t. fresh lemon zest, finely grated
1 t. dried lemon peel
1 T. loose leaf black tea
1 t. honey or ground rock sugar
1 t. fresh lemon juice
¼ t. pure vanilla extract
1 thin slice lemon

Fill the Water Tank with clear or filtered water. Place the zest, peel and tea leaves in the Strainer and mix lightly with a spoon. Place the Strainer into the Glass Chamber and insert the filled Chamber into the Base until it clicks.

Press the Refresh button and run the cycle. Discard the water from the Glass Carafe, replace on the Sensor Plate and press the Strong button. When the cycle is done, add the honey, lemon juice, extract and stir lightly. Pour into a cup and garnish with lemon slice.

Stomach Sooth

Soothing Ginger Green Tea (Serves 1)

1 T. loose leaf green tea
1 thin slice ginger, peeled
½ mint leaf, torn in small pieces
1 t. honey or rock sugar
Mint for garnish

Fill the Water Tank with clear or filtered water. Place the tea leaves, ginger and mint in the Strainer and mix lightly with a spoon. Place the Strainer into the Glass Chamber and insert the filled Chamber into the Base until it clicks.

Press the Refresh button and run the cycle. Discard the water from the Glass Carafe, replace on the Sensor Plate, and press the Medium button. When the cycle is done, fill one cup with tea and add a mint leaf, if desired.

Relax

Cinnamon & Spice Chai Tea (Serves 2)

2-3 T. loose leaf chai tea blend
1∕8 t. ground cardamom
1 cinnamon stick, broken in pieces
2 peppercorns
2 t. honey or rock sugar
2 T. almond milk

Fill the Water Tank with clear or filtered water. Place the tea leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, and peppercorns in the Strainer and mix lightly with a spoon. Place the Strainer into the Glass Chamber and insert the filled Chamber into the Base until it clicks.

Press the Refresh button and run the cycle. Discard the water from the Glass Carafe, replace on the Sensor Plate, and press the Medium button. When the cycle is done, pour the tea into a cup and repeat the cycle to prepare another cup of tea (without changing the filled Strainer). When done, add the honey and almond milk equally to 2 cups tea. Serve while warm.

Antioxidant Boost

Strawberry Jade Tea (Serves 1–2)

3 T. loose leaf Jade tea
¼ c. dried strawberries
2 t. ground rock sugar
2 t. fresh orange juice
2 thin slices orange, peeled

Fill the Water Tank with clear or filtered water. Place the tea leaves and strawberries in the Strainer and mix lightly with a spoon. Place the Strainer into the Glass Chamber and insert the filled Chamber into the Base until it clicks.

Press the Refresh button and run the cycle. Discard the water from the Glass Carafe, replace on the Sensor Plate, and press the Medium button. When the cycle is done, pour the tea into a cup and make another cup of tea (using the same filled Strainer). Divide the sugar equally among two cups of tea, add 1 teaspoon juice to each cup and float a slice of orange over each cup.

Cold & Flue Remedy

Spiced White Tea with Echinacea (Serves 1)

Fill the Water Tank with clear or filtered water. Place the tea leaves, cinnamon and cloves in the Strainer and mix lightly with a spoon. Place the Strainer into the Glass Chamber and insert the filled Chamber into the Base until it clicks.

Press the Refresh button and run the cycle. Discard the water from the Glass Carafe, replace on the Sensor Plate, and press the Light button. When the cycle is done, pour tea into a warm cup. Add the echinacea and juices and stir lightly. Serve while warm.

MAINTENANCE & SERVICE

1. ALWAYS allow the Tea-Square to cool completely before cleaning. Unplug the Tea-Square before cleaning. Empty the water from the Water Tank by removing the Drain Plug (fig. A) and draining water. Replace the Drain Plug when the water is fully emptied.
   
2. After each use, clean and dry the Tea-Square Base and all accessories. Use a damp cloth to clean the Base. DO NOT immerse the Base in water. Use non-abrasive soap only.
3. Do not place accessories in the dishwasher. Carefully wash in warm, sudsy water and dry thoroughly.

DECALCIFCATION

Over an extended period of time, the mineral deposits in the water will naturally accumulate. This can cause discoloration or an impediment to the brewing process. To avoid this, use filtered water for tea or decalcify the appliance once in a while as follows:

Fill the Water Tank with enough white vinegar to reach above the MIN Fill Line on the Water Tank. Do not fill the Strainer or glass Chamber with tea or other ingredients. Press the Strong button and run the brewing system. Discard the vinegar in the carafe. Drain and discard any vinegar remaining in the Water Tank.

Add enough water to the Water Tank to reach above the MIN Fill Line. Rinse the Strainer, glass Chamber and Carafe; dry and replace. Press the Strong button again and run the brewing system again. When done, empty the Carafe, clean and dry. Clean and dry the glass Chamber and Strainer. Drain any remaining water and refill with filtered or clean water. The Tea-Square is now ready to make tea again.

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. If the water does not pour according to the cycle, check the Water Tank and refill if needed. Check the Strainer and Glass Chamber area to determine if tea leaves have become stuck or are not allowing water to infuse throughout. Clean and replace the Strainer and Chamber.
2. The Tea-Square will make some slight noise as the water processes through the system. This is normal and part of the process.
3. If the Water Tank is low or empty, some slight noise may be heard. Refill the Tank promptly to avoid damage to the appliance.

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

When operating this electric appliance, basic safety instructions should always be followed. Refer to the following for these instructions.

1. READ ALL SAFETY & USAGE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING TEA-SQUARE BREWING SYSTEM.
2. EXERCISE CAUTION: Do not immerse cord, plug or the Tea-Square Base in water or other liquid.
3. Hot steam escapes through the Steam Vent while the Tea-Square is operating. Keep hands and face away from the Vent.
4. Do not use liquids or ingredients in the Tea-Square other than those intended, as it may cause fire and/or short circuit damage.
5. Unplug the Tea-Square from outlet when not in use or before cleaning. Allow the Tea-Square to cool before cleaning. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter or touch hot surfaces.
6. Children should not use the Tea-Square; close supervision is required when appliance is used near children.
7. Operate the Tea-Square on a level surface well away from any hot gas or electrical burner, heat source, combustible spray cans or pressurized items.
8. Never operate the Tea-Square with a damaged cord or plug or one that has malfunctioned or been damaged in any way. Immediately contact Customer Service for analysis.
9. DO NOT add unauthorized accessory attachments. Such use may result in electric shock, injury or fire.
10. Do not use the Tea-Square for any use other than intended. Do not use on a stovetop.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY

3 Conductor Cord Set: This appliance is equipped with a 3-conductor cord set that has a 3 prong grounding-type plug. It should be properly connected to a grounding-type outlet. The plug is designed to fit ONLY a 3-grounding outlet unit, and as such, the grounding prong should never be removed. If needed, purchase a 2-prong adaptor and ground it to the outlet. Consult a qualified electrician if in doubt. Do not use an adaptor unless you are confident it is grounded. Do not modify this plug. If the plug does not fit the outlet securely, call a qualified electrician for assistance.

For Customer Service or Questions, Please call: 888-552-0033

www.gourmia.com