Tea Brewing Guide

When brewing tea it is important to keep a few things in mind before you brew any type of tea, take the time to read our Tea Brew advice to get that perfect cup of tea.

How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea

1. 1. Always use the best quality teas available to you.
2. 2. Keep your Teas stored correctly, an airtight container kept at room temperature is best.
3. 3. Always draw fresh water before boiling and never reboiled water as the oxygen in fresh water draws out more flavour from the tea. This could be the difference between a bright, vibrant cup of tea and a dull brew.
4. 4. Measure the tea you are using correctly, all teas and coffees have different measurements. Using the correct measurements will ensure a more enjoyable brew.
5. 5. As an old fashioned guide it was always said a teaspoon per person and one for the pot for preparing tea.
6. 6. Let the Tea brew for the advised time and temperature; green tea, black tea, fruit tea and herbal tea all require different steeping times, we have brewing guidelines on all of our teas online.

Brewing Guide for Black Tea 

Many tea drinkers enjoy adding milk and sugar to their black tea, some enjoy a spoon of honey to balance the mild bitterness, a squeeze of lemon to accentuate the astringency or as it is- however you take your tea, these tips will create a better brew;

	1 teaspoon per person and one for the pot.
	Brew at a temperature of 95⁰ – 100⁰c.
	For 3-5 minutes, depending on personal preference.

Brewing Guide for White Tea

The brewing guidelines for white tea can differ from each variety, so ensure that you follow the instructions on the packet.

Bring freshly drawn water from the boil and leave to cool to 70-80 degrees, to be sure to not burn the leaf and create a bitter taste.
We tend to use a table spoon to measure white tea as the leaf can be large and use one per person and one for the pot.

	Bring freshly drawn water from the boil and leave to cool to 70-80 degrees.
	Use a table spoon to measure white tea as the leaf can be large, one per person and one for the pot.
	Allowing the tea to steep for no longer then 3 minutes.

Brewing Guide for Green Tea

People tell us that they dislike green tea, our answer to this is simple, our green tea brewing guide? of course, it may just not be your cup of tea (excuse the pun) but more often than not, the water temperature is too high or it is over brewed. 

Green tea can be steeped more then once. However, it is important to remember that for each steep to leave it longer each time and to be aware that after the first steep, tea loses 80% of its caffeine.

	1 teaspoons of tea per person and one for the pot.
	Brew at a temperature at 60⁰- 70⁰c to prevent the leaf burning.
	For the period of 2 to 3 minutes.

Brewing Guide for Rooibos Tea

You can boil rooibos tea on the hob. Having a very low amount of tannin means that this tea does not stew or become bitter. The traditional South African recipe, says that the longer this tea is left to brew, the better it tastes, more antioxidants and goodness you get from it!  

Adding milk and sugar to taste or even honey and lemon. Rooibos Tea makes a great iced tea as well as a hot tea.

	Allowing a teaspoon of tea for each person and a spoon for the pot.
	Best brewed for 5-7 minutes.
	When brewing rooibos tea, use the water straight off the boil, the hotter the better!

Steeping Guide for Pu erh Tea

It is recommended for Pu erh Tea to use a clay or cast iron teapot, however a modern one will do just fine! The Pu erh leaf can produce up to 10 cups of tea, although it can be an expensive tea. It can be very good value for money. Using 5-6 grams (3 table spoons) per 150ml, note additional brews would require an additional 30 seconds.

	Use 1 teaspoon per person and one for the pot.
	We recommend brewing at 85 to 95 degrees
	3 to 5 minutes the first steeping time.

Brew Tea Guide for Herbal Tea

Herbal Teas are best brewed for longer, this allows all the goodness and flavour to be released. As these teas do not contain any Camellia Sinensis they will not go bitter if brewed for too long.

	One tea spoon per person and one for the pot.
	Best with water straight off the boil.
	We suggest around 7-10 minutes.

How to Make Matcha Tea

The best way to make Matcha Tea is the same way it has been done for over a thousand years. This incredible green tea powder has high headlines in recent years due to its well documented health benefits.

With all of this hype around this loose tea we have seen a huge growth in sales over the past three years.

	Use a teaspoon of matcha in a bowl.
	Use boiled water at 80 degrees
	Whisk to infuse the brew, creating a frothy top

How to Brew Fruit Tisanes

We would recommend steeping fruit tisanes for a little longer to ensure you get as much of the fruity flavours as you can for the tea you are making.

	One tea spoon per person and one for the pot.
	Best with water straight off the boil.
	We recommend steeping for around 7-10 minutes.

How to Make Iced Tea

There are many ways to make Iced Tea and many variations of different recipes which you can find online. Also in cook books, we have put together a basic brewing guide which will help when making yourself and your friends a refreshing glass of Iced Tea on a Summers Day.

We recommend that 2 tea spoons of loose tea per person, once you have boiled the kettle we recommend leaving the kettle to stand for 2 minutes to allow the boiling water to cool to 80 degrees.

If you are making your Iced Tea with a Herbal or Tisane tea you will need to allow the tea to infuse for 8 to 10 minutes, if you are using a Black or Green Tea or other Types of Tea please follow our recommended brewing guide which will be on the related tea product page or you can find this information on this page by looking the the tea type.

Once the leaves have been infused with a strainer pour into a jug and fill with cooled water and add ice should you wish.

Once you have added the cool water this is now your opportunity to be creative and experiential with different fresh fruits and flavours for example you could add a little Honey or Sugar to add that extra sweetness.