How to Brew Tea for Drinking

The recipe for a good cup of tea to drink varies with the type of tea you are using. If you only use tea bags, 1 tea bag per person with 6 ounces/180ml of boiling water should provide a good cup. If using green tea, use water almost to boiling.

For loose-leaf teas, the amount of tea used should be weighed rather than measured. Some tea leaves are small and heavy while others are huge yet very light, requiring many leaves to provide good flavor in the cup.

To prepare for your cup of tea, rinse out the cup with very hot water and set it aside. Rinse out a teapot with hot water and set it aside. Measure out the tea, test the water for the right temperature, and pour over the tea leaves in the pot. Brew for 1 minute; taste. Brew longer to suit your taste. All professional tea merchants will give you guidelines for the quantity of tea to use and the length of time to brew it. If he or she won’t take the time to give you this information, seek another vendor.