It’s easy to brew a great cup of tea, as long as you pay attention to water, temperature, portion, and time.
Tips for Brewing Tea
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Water
Great tea starts with the water. Begin with freshly drawn water from the best source you have available—if you have filtered or spring water, even better. Use fresh water every time, as water that’s already been boiled tends to be flat. As the water is boiling, get out your tea.
- If you’re using loose-leaf tea, use one teaspoon of tea to every eight ounces of water.
- For a tea bag, use one bag for every eight ounces of water.
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Temperature
Make sure your water is the proper temperature for the tea you've chosen.
- If you’ve picked a black, dark oolong, or herbal tea, pour the water over the tea as soon as it’s reached a rolling boil.
- If you’ve picked a green, light oolong, or white tea, let the water cool for several moments (or to about 180 degrees) before pouring. The more delicate tea leaves can be scalded by water that’s too hot, which may result in a bitter cup.
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Patience
Let the tea steep for the right amount of time.
- For a black tea and most herbal teas, four to five minutes is good.
- An oolong should take about three to four.
- A green tea only needs two to three minutes.
- A white tea takes even less—only about two minutes.
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Serving
When time is up, remove the tea leaves or tea bag from your cup. Remove the tea bag gently—don’t squeeze it out.
Once the tea is discarded, you can add what you like:
- The heartier black teas mix well with milk and/or sugar.
- The more delicate teas, like Darjeelings, oolongs, green tea, and white tea, are great on their own, but can be sweetened if desired.
Enjoy!
