How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Your tea starts with the leaves themselves. Go for fresh, high quality loose leaf teas for the best results:

• Black teas – Strong, malty, bold. Great with milk.

• Green teas – Fresh, grassy, delicate. Best without milk.

• Oolong teas – Between green and black; floral or toasty.

• White tea – Light, sweet and delicate.

• Herbal teas – Naturally caffeine free; floral, fruity or spiced.

• Pu erh – Earthy, mellow and smooth.

• Rooibos tea – Naturally sweet with hints of vanilla.

Tip: Keep your tea in an airtight container, stored away from light, heat, and moisture to maintain its freshness.

2. Decide on the Ratio

A common starting point is about one teaspoon of loose tea per 8-ounce cup of water for most teas. For large-leaf teas, such as white tea or some oolongs, you may need 1.5–2 teaspoons to achieve the same flavor strength. This is your standard ratio, but you can adjust it. Want a stronger brew? Add more tea leaves. Prefer a lighter taste? Use fewer leaves. Over time, you’ll find the appropriate amount for your taste. There are no fast rules when it comes to ratios—let your personal preference guide your adjustments.

3. Get Your Gear Ready

You’ll need:

• A teapot or mug

• A tea infuser, tea ball or French press

• Tea kettle (electric or stovetop)

• Measuring spoon

• Fresh filtered water

When choosing a teapot, consider using roomy, filter-free pots for brewing loose leaf tea. These types of pots allow the leaves to expand fully, enhancing flavor extraction and preventing bitterness. Specialized pots, such as borosilicate glass teapots, are also well-suited for tea brewing.

Having your tools ready makes it easy to prepare tea without rushing.

4. Heat Your Water

Water temperature affects flavor as much as the tea itself.

Getting the desired temperature for each tea type is key for optimal flavor extraction and to avoid bitterness or weak infusions.

5. Measure Your Tea Leaves

Loose leaf tea expands as it steeps, so make sure your infuser or tea balls have enough room for the leaves to open. Measuring carefully ensures consistency in flavor—especially if you want to recreate that perfect cup you made last week.

6. Steep Your Tea

This is where the magic happens. Once your tea leaves are in your tea infuser (or tea ball), pour hot water over them and let them steep. When properly steeped, the tea will have extracted the optimal flavors and aromas.

The steep step is crucial—allow the leaves to infuse in hot water for the right amount of time to achieve the best taste and avoid bitterness or weak flavor.

Recommended Steep Times & Temperatures

Tips:

• Start with the lower end of the steep time if you prefer a lighter brew and make sure you’ve used the correct temperature for your tea type.

• For stronger flavor, steep a bit longer but don’t over-steep to avoid bitterness.

• If unsure, taste your tea after a minute or two and stop steeping when the tea steeps to your preferred strength.

7. Remove Your Tea Leaves and Enjoy!

Once your tea has steeped, remove the infuser to prevent over-extraction. Don’t leave tea leaves in your cup for too long as this can make the tea bitter. Now you can enjoy as is or add lemon, honey or a cinnamon stick for more flavor.

8. Optional: Add Milk or Sugar

Some teas like English breakfast or chai are great with milk and sugar. Others like green tea, white tea and many herbal teas are usually enjoyed plain. Whether you add milk is up to you and experimenting will help you find your own tasty cup.

Making Loose Leaf Tea Without an Infuser

No infuser? No problem. Here are ways to brew loose leaf tea:

• French press – Add tea leaves like you would coffee grounds, pour hot water, steep and press down.

• Mason jar – Steep tea directly in hot water, then pour through a small mesh strainer.

• Coffee filter – Place tea leaves inside, fold it closed and steep like a DIY tea bag. Unlike commercial tea bags which often contain dusty tea that can produce bitter tannins and lack flavor complexity, brewing loose leaf tea with these methods gives you a more full-bodied and enjoyable taste.

• Strain after steeping – Brew tea in a pot or cup and strain out the leaves using tea strainers or a small mesh strainer.

These methods are perfect for beginners or when making iced tea or cold brew tea in larger quantities.

Storage and Maintenance

Keep your loose leaf tea fresh and your brewing tools clean to make every cup taste its best. Proper storage preserves flavor and aroma while regular care for your equipment ensures each drink is pure and enjoyable.

How to Store Loose Leaf Tea

Loose leaf tea is sensitive to light, air, heat and moisture so proper storage is key to enjoying the full flavor and aroma. Transfer your loose leaf tea to an airtight, opaque container – think a sturdy tin or a dark glass jar with a tight seal. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources like stoves or radiators.

Also keep your loose leaf tea away from strong-smelling foods like coffee as tea leaves can absorb surrounding odors which can affect the taste of your next cup of tea. For the most flavorful tea, try to use your loose leaf within six to twelve months of purchase. By taking a little extra care with storage you’ll ensure every cup is as fresh and aromatic as possible.

Cleaning and Caring for Your Brewing Equipment

A clean brewing setup is essential for making great loose leaf tea. After each use rinse your tea infuser, tea kettle and teapot with hot water to remove any lingering tea leaves and residue. This simple step prevents old flavors from affecting the taste of your next brew.

For a deeper clean soak your tea infuser, teapot or electric kettle in a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. This dissolves mineral deposits and removes any stubborn tea oils that can build up over time. If your tea infuser has tiny holes use a soft brush to gently clear out any trapped leaf tea. Avoid harsh scrubbers or abrasive cleaners as these can scratch your equipment and impact its performance.

Don’t forget to descale your electric kettle regularly especially if you have hard water. This keeps your kettle running efficiently and ensures your hot water is always fresh for brewing. With a little regular maintenance your brewing tools will help you enjoy a clean, flavorful cup of loose leaf tea every time.

FAQs

Can I Cold Brew Loose Leaf Tea?

Yes! Cold brewing involves steeping tea in cold water for around eight hours in the fridge. This produces a smoother, less astringent flavor perfect for making iced tea.

Is it Necessary to Cover Tea While Steeping?

Covering your cup or teapot helps retain heat and aroma especially for herbal teas and green teas. It’s not necessary but can lead to a more aromatic result.

Why is it Not Recommended to Boil Water with Tea Leaves?

Boiling tea leaves directly can over-extract tannins and make your tea taste bitter and lose delicate notes, especially in white tea and green tea. It’s better to boil water separately and then pour hot water over your tea leaves.

Why is My Loose Leaf Tea Bitter?

Common causes are over-steeping, using water that’s too hot or too many tea leaves. Adjust your steep time, water temperature and ratio to fix the problem and enjoy every cup.

Conclusion

Brewing loose leaf tea is easy to enjoy a more flavorful tea experience to your taste. By choosing quality leaves, using the right ratio and paying attention to water temperature and steep time you can brew a perfect cup every time. Whether you use a tea infuser, French press or another method, the possibilities are endless and you’ll never look at bagged tea the same way again.

Ready to brew your next great cup? Browse our selection of premium loose leaf teas – from classic black and green to unique herbal blends and find the perfect flavor for your next drink