You’ve chosen a magnificent tea, perhaps a delicate white or a robust black. But the journey isn’t over. The final step—brewing—is where magic can happen or where tragedy can strike. Over-steeped bitterness or a weak, insipid cup are common fates, but they are easily avoidable. Unlocking the full potential of your tea leaves is a simple matter of respecting three key variables: water temperature, steeping time, and leaf-to-water ratio.
The most common mistake is using boiling water for every type of tea. Water temperature is critical because it extracts different compounds from the leaves. Delicate teas like white and green are easily scorched by boiling water, which brings out tannins and creates bitterness. They thrive at lower temperatures, between 70°C and 80°C. Oolong teas prefer hotter water, around 85°C-90°C, to open their complex leaves. Black and Pu-erh teas require the full force of boiling water (100°C) to extract their rich, robust flavours fully.
Steeping time is equally important. It’s not “the longer, the stronger”; it’s “the longer, the more bitter.” A green tea might need only 2-3 minutes, while a black tea can handle 3-5 minutes. Steeping beyond the recommended time will over-extract those bitter tannins. For a stronger cup, don’t steep longer—use more leaves.
This brings us to the leaf-to-water ratio. A standard guideline is one teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per 200ml cup. However, this can be adjusted to taste. Using too few leaves will result in a weak brew, no matter how long you steep it. For the ultimate experience, consider investing in a simple kitchen scale and following weight-based recommendations (e.g., 2-3 grams of tea per 180ml of water).
Finally, the vessel matters. Always start with a pre-warmed pot or cup to maintain a stable brewing temperature. And while tea bags are convenient, using high-quality loose-leaf tea provides far superior flavour. The leaves have room to expand and unfurl fully, releasing their complete spectrum of oils and essences into the water. By mastering these simple elements, you transform a daily habit into a ritual of exquisite flavour.