Quantity:
I use one heaping teaspoon of tea for every 8 oz of water. Generally accepted proportions are 1 tablespoon of tea leaves to 14 oz of water, but you should experiment to suit your own tastes.
Time:
Teas left to steep too long will taste bitter. It is vital to remove the tea leaves from the water immediately, once they have brewed for the recommended time.
Herbal Teas – 5 minutes
Black Teas – 4 minutes
Oolong Teas - 3 minutes
Flowering Teas – 2-3 minutes*
White Teas – 2 minutes
Green Teas – 2 minutes
Temperature:
Teas are brewed at a specific temperature to best extract the delicious flavour and aroma from the tea leaves. Heartier teas are brewed at higher temperatures, for longer periods, while more delicate teas take less time with lower temperatures. Brewing a tea in water that is too hot will result in a ’scorched’ taste. Using water that is not hot enough will not extract the flavour effectively
Herbal Teas – 212 degrees F
Black Teas – 212 degrees F
Flowering Teas – 212 degrees F
Oolong Teas – 200 degrees F
White Teas – 185 degrees F
Green Teas – 185 degrees F
* After steeping a tea flower once, more hot water can be added and the flower can be steeped a second and third time. This is not recommended for any other types of tea.
