How to Brew loose leaf tea?

It's easier than you think since there is no right or wrong way to make tea. Experiment and, most importantly, let your palate be your guide. If it's your first time brewing loose tea, here are some simple instructions to follow to ensure that your first cup is one you thoroughly enjoy.

Water: Start with good tasting water - lightly filtered or spring water will do. Follow the temperature guide below and be sure not to pour boiling water on green or white tea as this will "cook" the leaves and to a degree lessen their flavor. One note, if you like the taste of your tap water, you will probably find it satisfactory for making tea.

Leaves: Put the recommended amount of tea leaves in your teapot. As our teas are high grade, less is probably better than more. For a cup of tea or a teapot up to 12 ounces, one tablespoon (3-5 grams) of tea should be enough. For a teapot 16-24 ounces, a rounded tablespoon of leaf will probably work. You may need to experiment some here to find the right quantity and taste. Note, if the tea is becoming astringent, even with a short steep, you probably are using too much leaf.

Steep Time: Generally, we steep our green, white and black teas for 2-3 minutes. Oolongs will typically use shorter steeps as they are strong in taste. Pu-erh teas will steep for longer periods. So, the steep time may vary for each variety. Start with shorter steep times (2 minutes) and see if you like the taste. Experiment and increase the steep time as needed.

Taste: Most of our leaves are meant to be steeped two or three times. Simply add hot water to the pot and increase the steep time with each infusion. Between steeps, drain the water from the leaves.

How to Brew Tea: The Long Version

Water

Water for tea is best when it has a clear, crisp taste and is soft, free of chlorine and low in alkalinity. In other words, your water should be fresh and pure. Good water is available in any number of ways (short of going out to the mountains with a jug). Bottled, noncarbonated spring water, of course, can be purchased. Or, you can make your own tea water by using a Brita or other filter as they are inexpensive and reduce the chlorine and mineral content.

Generally, teas brew best in moderate to soft water. Some experimentation will tell you how well a particular tea is doing in the water you typically drink. Tap water is rarely the best to use because of the filtration systems and substances such as chlorine that are added to make the water safe to drink. However, if you like the taste of your tap water, you will probably find it satisfactory for making tea.