Tea Brewing Guide

The Secrets to a Perfect Cup of Tea!

One plant, Camellia Sinensis, creates the varieties of tea available. How it is processed (dried and/or oxidized) by the growers determines if the leaf will become white, green, matcha (stone-ground tea), oolong, pu-erh, black, purple, or yellow teas.

Other plants are commonly referred to as tea because they are brewed and consumed similarly to tea. For example, rooibos (an Afrikaans word meaning 'red bush') from South Africa, yerba mate from South America, and a broad range of herbals that are fruits, plants, and botanicals.

We created an easy-to-understand tea brewing guide with common tea types, caffeine level, water brewing temperature, and steep time for both hot brew and cold brew teas. Feel free to experiment and try out different tea types. Tell us how you like your tea brewed, and let us know if we can help answer any of your tea-related questions! Also, continue reading for all the details of the world of tea brewing!

Brewing Basics for Hot Tea

There's nothing better than a good cup of tea. To ensure best results, consider these three things:

1. The Quality of Water

When possible, using fresh filtered water will bring out the best flavor of your tea. Avoid using water with heavy mineral content because it will alter the natural essence and flavor of tea.

2. The Amount of Tea

A teaspoon is the simplest tool for measuring tea, or use one of our 'perfect spoons'. Measure one level teaspoon of loose tea (heaping for large leaf tea) for each 6 to 8 ounces of water (~ to 1 cup or mug). Pour prepared hot water over the tea to brew / steep according to the brewing instructions above.

3. The Perfect Steep

Less time is always better – too long and the tea may become bitter. Refer to our brewing guide for detailed instructions for each type of tea and brewing method. Feel free to adjust the amount of tea and the steep time to suit your taste – tea is a very personal experience!

Making the Perfect Iced Tea

Individual (16oz) cup method:

Brew 2.5 teaspoons of tea in 4oz of freshly-prepared water using the appropriate time and temperature from our Brewing Basics for Hot Tea above. Then pour over ice. Top with additional cold water and ice up to 16oz.

Pitcher method:

Brew 1oz of tea in 16oz of freshly-prepared water using the appropriate time and temperature from our Brewing Basics for Hot Tea above. Then pour over ice. Top with additional cold water and ice up to 2 quarts.

The Art of Cold Brew Tea

Cold brewing tea is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, add 8 teaspoons of tea to a 2-litre pitcher of cold or tap water. Second, steep in the fridge for overnight (8 or more hours). Third, strain and serve over ice. The benefit of the cold brew method is the tea gets stronger, but does not over-steep and turn bitter.

Whisking the Perfect Matcha

Matcha is generally considered the healthiest of all teas since you consume the whole leaf. Matcha is used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony and is prepared using a bowl, a beautiful whisk made from a single piece of bamboo, artfully designed with 100 tines.

To prepare at home, place ¾ teaspoon of matcha - or 2 scoops with the bamboo scoop - into a teacup or bowl, and pour 6 ounces of hot water (170°F) into the bowl.

Using the whisk, briskly brush from side to side, and then whisk until a fine foam of small bubbles appears. Some people suggest whisking in the shape of an 'M'.

Consume the matcha immediately, directly from the cup or bowl.