Tea Tips
Start simple. You need tea, water, a cup or pot, and a little attention. The suggestions below are starting points, not rules. Follow the package instructions when available, then adjust for your own taste.
A Simple Method
- Warm your cup or pot with hot water if you like.
- Begin with about one teaspoon of loose tea for a 250 ml cup. Large, light leaves may need more space rather than more weight.
- Add water at a temperature suited to the tea.
- Taste after one to three minutes. If it is too strong, shorten the next infusion; if it is too light, add time or leaf.
- Many loose-leaf teas can be infused more than once. Add a little time with each round and notice what changes.
Water Temperature — Friendly Starting Points
- Green tea: 75–85°C
- White tea: 80–90°C
- Oolong tea: 85–95°C
- Black tea: 90–100°C
- Dark tea and many pu’er teas: 95–100°C
- Herbal or floral infusions: follow the ingredient or package guidance
No thermometer? Let fully boiled water rest briefly for delicate green or white tea. If a tea tastes harsh, try cooler water or less time before deciding that you dislike it.
These are general brewing suggestions, not medical or dietary advice.