How to Brew Tea

Often asked how to make or brew a good pot of tea, there are many ways to make your favourite pot or cup of tea. This is a general guide to a great tasting cup. Of course you can vary the suggestions according to your own individual tastes. You'll be surprised at just how easy brewing tea is.
 
Store your tea in a clean, dry, airtight container, away from light and odours.

Fresh Water
Always use freshly drawn water. Never reheat your your water as it contains less oxygen and will give your tea a stale taste.

Preheat
Preheat your teapot by filling it with hot water and then pouring it out through the spout. This ensures that the boiled water is not cooled when it hits the teapot and encourages the tea leaves to unfurl.

Add Tea
Add your favourite Tea straight into your teapot. Alternatively, use a tea infuser, tea sock or teapot filter. Pour the freshly boiled water into the teapot, fit the lid and steep. Using a Tea Cosy at this stage will ensure that your favourite tea stays hot.

Steep
Brew, don't stew. The technical term for 'Brewing Tea' is actually 'Steeping'. See our Brewing Guide (below) for suggested brewing times.

Serve
Serve all the tea, straining if necessary. Add sugar, milk or lemon as desired.

Refill the teapot with freshly boiled water for more cups of tea. Remove tea bags or loose leaf tea after second brewing as tea may become too strong and bitter tasting.

Alternatively, if you are not serving all of your tea straight away and you are not using a teapot infuser or filter etc; you can always strain your freshly brewed tea into another pre-heated teapot to avoid over brewing.

Did you Know?  The Chinese first used tea in healing against tumuors, abscesses, bladder ailments and lethargy. Only later in history was it consumed as a refreshing beverage. 

Storing Leaf Tea
These tips will ensure that your tea always stays fresh.

Always buy top quality tea leaves. Keep only small amounts of your favourite tea in a tea caddy or tea tin so that you can replenish the supply more frequently. Ensure your tea caddy or tea tin is airtight, clean and dry. Always remove any leftover tea leaf from your tea tin prior to adding your fresh tea leaf. Make sure you use a dry spoon when measuring out your tea leaves from the tin.

Length of Storage if properly stored; 
Black Teas may remain flavourful for up to 2 years after harvesting. Green teas are best used within 6 months of picking.
 
Tea Brewing Guide
Our suggested tea quantities are
 
Loose Leaf Tea
Allow 1 heaped teaspoon per person and 1 for the teapot.

Tea Bags
Most tea bags make 2 cups,so add according to the number of cups of tea required. Eg: For 4 cups of tea use 2 tea bags. For very strong add an extra teabag

Brewing Times 

As a general rule, the larger the tea leaf, the longer the brewing times. As a guide, steep your teas for the following suggested times. Vary according to your own taste.
   
Green Teas
Use water that has freshly boiled, then cooled briefly, and steep for 2-3 minutes.

Black Teas
Use freshly boiled water and steep for 3-5 minutes.

Oolong Teas
Use freshly boiled water and steep for 5-7 minutes.
  
If you prefer a weaker tea, taste after 2 minutes.
Teabags brew quicker.