Tea Brewing Guides
Brewing tea from home is an excellent way to start your morning or
end a long day. There are several methods of brewing teas, but keeping
in mind the type of tea you are using is key. Each type of tea (black,
green, white, tisane (herbal/fruit), oolong) has different requirements
to produce the best tasting cup. Enjoy these tea brewing guides.
Follow the tea brewing guide below for all tea brewing methods, and adjust ratios for tea brewing as necessary:
Brewing tea from home is an excellent way to start your morning or end a long day. There are several methods of brewing teas, but keeping in mind the type of tea you are using is key. Each type of tea (black, green, white, tisane (herbal/fruit), oolong) has different requirements to produce the best tasting cup. Enjoy these tea brewing guides.
Follow the tea brewing guide below for all tea brewing methods, and adjust ratios for tea brewing as necessary:
Note- All these teas come from the same plant- Camellia sinensis. The tea leaves are distinguished by oxidation time after being picked and withered. This process changes the flavor, caffeine content, and brewing requirements.
- Black Tea- most oxidized of all the teas
- Oolong Tea- partially oxidized
- Green Tea- unoxidized
- Darjeeling Tea- partially oxidized
- White Tea – small amount of oxidization
- Tusane = Herbal, Rooibus and Fruit Teas- No tea leaves are actually present in these teas. Rather, they are made up of mixed herbs and dried fruits. Oxidation varies but does not effect the tea in the same way it effects the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
Useful Tools:
Hot Tea- Basic Tea Brewing
How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea
What You’ll Need:
- 10 oz. of fresh filtered water
- Any loose tea of your choice
- Any kind of tea infuser, drawstring, or fold-over teabags
Pro Tip:
Preheating the cup that will hold your tea will prevent the drink from cooling too quickly and creating excess bitterness. It can keep your tea tasting fresh longer if you drink slowly over long periods of time. Follow the tea portions and tea brewing temperatures as listed in the chart above.
Brewing Instructions:
Step 1: Measure out the tea leaves and heat the water based on the chart above. Pour the leaves into your tea bag or infuser, and place in a mug or teapot.
Step 2: Place the tea leaves in your infuser or tea bag, then add it to your preheated mug or teapot.
Step 3: Steep for the recommended time, then remove the tea bag or infuser.
Tea Brewer with Infuser
Choose image
What You’ll Need:
10 oz. of fresh filtered water.Any loose tea of your choice. Tea brewer with infuser.
Pro Tip:
Tea brewers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each one varies in specific usage instructions, so make sure to review before brewing. Explore the tea brewers we offer here. French presses can be used to brew tea as well! We do recommend using it only make tea . Preheating your cup or mug is recommended to avoid cooling.
Brewing Instructions:
Step 1: Following the “Hot Tea Brewing Method” chart (located at the top of this page), measure out tea leaves and water. Place tea leaves in the main compartment of the brewer.
Step 2: Fill with water and allow to steep for the appropriate amount of time.
Step 3: Serve directly from the tea brewer. Most brewers are designed to filter out the tea leaves as you pour.
Iced Tea
What You’ll Need:
- 10 oz. of fresh filtered water
- Any loose tea of your choice, for iced tea you will need to put in twice as much tea
- Any kind of tea infuser, drawstring, or fold-over teabags
Pro Tip:
Allow tea to cool a little after steeping and before pouring over ice to prevent the ice from melting. One trick is to tranfer hot tea to a cold cup of glass.
Brewing Instructions:
Step 1: Measure out the tea leaves and heat the water based on the chart above. Pour the leaves into your tea bag or infuser, and place in a mug or teapot.
Step 2: Allow the tea to steep in the water for the proper amount of time before removing the tea bag or infuser.
Step 3: Pour the brewed tea directly over ice. Dilute with water if necessary.
Overnight Cold Brew Tea (1 Gallon)
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon (128 oz) cold filtered water
- 1.5 - 2 oz (about ½ to ¾ cup) loose leaf tea of your choice
Optional: Fresh fruit slices, herbs (like mint or basil), or a sweetener (honey, agave, or simple syrup)
Equipment:
- Large pitcher or jar (1 gallon capacity)
- Reusable tea filter
- cheesecloth, or a fine-mesh strainer
- Stirring spoon
Instructions:
Measure & Prepare the Tea:
Use 1.5 - 2 oz of loose-leaf tea, depending on how strong you like your teaFor black or green teas, use 1.5 oz; for herbal or fruit blends, use 2 oz.
Add Water:
Place tea leaves in a large pitcher or jar.Pour 1 gallon of cold, filtered water over the leaves.
Stir & Cover:
Give it a gentle stir to ensure all the tea leaves are saturated.Cover with a lid or plastic wrap to prevent any outside odors from affecting the tea.
Steep Overnight:
Refrigerate for 12-16 hours for black, green, or oolong teas.For herbal and fruit teas, you can steep for up to 24 hours.
Strain & Serve: Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or a reusable tea filter to remove the leaves.