Give leaves room
Use a roomy infuser so whole leaves can open and the water can move around them.
The kettle’s on
A little know-how. A much better cup.
Loose leaf tea isn’t difficult. A bit of room for the leaves, the right water temperature and a few unhurried minutes will get you a long way. Here’s a helping hand.
Mind the water
Boiling water suits some teas beautifully; delicate green and white leaves prefer it cooler.
Lift on time
Remove the infuser when the timer ends. More leaf usually gives a better stronger cup than more time.
A few minutes well spent
00:00
A quiet on-screen timer. Keep this page open to see when your tea is ready. Changing the tea or time resets the timer.
THE THREE VARIABLES
A better cup is mostly a better starting point.
Start with the packet. These are starting points for brewing loose leaf tea in a mug or teapot. Leaf size, ingredients and your own taste make a difference. If the instructions on your tea differ, follow those.
Measure the water you’ll actually use, give the leaves room to open in a roomy infuser, and strain when the time is up. Making a bigger pot? Increase the leaf and water together; you don’t need to double the brewing time.
Meet the everyday teapot →
THE SHORT VERSION
Six starting points. No spreadsheet required.
Starting points for a mug or teapot, using 250 ml of water. Your tea’s packet takes priority. These are not instructions for matcha or gongfu brewing.
01
Black tea
- Water temperature
- 100°C
- Leaf per 250 ml
- 2.5g
- Starting brew time
- 3min
Read the brewing note
A useful starting point for many breakfast teas and black tea blends. Check your packet: some delicate black teas need gentler water or a shorter brew.
02
Green tea
- Water temperature
- 80°C
- Leaf per 250 ml
- 2.5g
- Starting brew time
- 2min
Read the brewing note
Cooler water and a shorter infusion are a good starting point for many green teas. Some Japanese teas need cooler water still. Matcha is prepared differently.
03
White tea
- Water temperature
- 80°C
- Leaf per 250 ml
- 2.5g
- Starting brew time
- 3min
Read the brewing note
White teas vary widely. Follow your packet, and give the large leaves plenty of room. A scale is more consistent than a teaspoon for bulky leaves.
04
Oolong tea
- Water temperature
- 90°C
- Leaf per 250 ml
- 2.5g
- Starting brew time
- 3min
Read the brewing note
A mug-brewing starting point. Rolled, roasted and greener oolongs can need different temperatures and times; follow the guidance for your particular tea.
05
Rooibos
- Water temperature
- 100°C
- Leaf per 250 ml
- 2.5g
- Starting brew time
- 5min
Read the brewing note
Use freshly boiled water and a fine-mesh infuser for these small leaves. Plain rooibos is naturally caffeine-free; check the ingredients of blends.
06
Fruit & herbal infusions
- Water temperature
- 100°C
- Leaf per 250 ml
- 2.5g
- Starting brew time
- 5min
Read the brewing note
Ingredients and leaf sizes vary, so follow the packet for the amount and time. Herbal does not automatically mean caffeine-free: maté contains caffeine.
Good questions, actually.
Why does my green tea taste bitter?
Try cooler water, a shorter brewing time or a little less leaf. Change one thing at a time so you can find what you prefer. Start with the instructions for your tea, then strain the leaves when the brewing time is up.
How much loose leaf tea should I use?
For many teas, 2.5 g per 250 ml of water is a useful starting point. A fluffy white tea and a tightly rolled oolong take up very different amounts of space, so weighing is more consistent than counting teaspoons. Use the packet instructions first.
Are herbal teas always caffeine-free?
No. Many herbal infusions are naturally caffeine-free, but maté contains caffeine, and blends may include black or green tea. Check the ingredients and caffeine information for the individual product. Decaffeinated tea is different from naturally caffeine-free and can still contain a little caffeine.
Do I need a teapot?
No. A mug and a roomy infuser will do nicely. Leave enough space for the leaves to open, then lift the infuser out when your tea is ready. A fine-mesh infuser is particularly useful for small rooibos leaves.
Can I brew the same leaves again?
Many whole-leaf teas can be infused more than once, particularly oolong, green and white teas. Flavour changes with each infusion, so experiment during the same tea session. Your tea’s brewing notes may suggest a suitable approach.
Now choose a tea worth brewing properly.
Find something worth putting the kettle on for
