Steeping Guide

Proportions

We suggest starting with 2 grams of tea per cup of water. If you do not have a scale to measure out the weight of your tea, for a typical black tea, 2 grams roughly equals 1 teaspoon. One cup of water refers to one metric cup (250ml or 8oz). For teas with larger leaf sizes, teas blended with herbs and spices, fluffier herbals and oolongs, we recommend using a little more. The label on each tin references a suggested spoon measurement. However, it is all about your taste and how you enjoy your tea the most! 

Temperature

The temperature of water you use to steep teas and herbals can greatly affect the flavour. 

Each tea type has different properties related to cultivation and processing methods and water temperature will enhance certain qualities. A general rule is that more oxidized teas (like blacks, pu-erhs, and dark oolongs) will be most flavourful when steeped using boiling water, while less oxidized teas (greens, whites, yellows, and light oolongs) will be burned by boiling water. A simple cooking thermometer may be helpful, but is not necessary. If using a kettle, after reaching a boil, allow it to vent before pouring onto tea leaves. Herbals can be steeped at boiling as well.

Timing

For optimal taste, we recommend setting a timer. If you aren't sure, start with a shorter steep time and increase to taste. We also recommend using a strainer that can be removed, a pot where you can pour off all the tea at once, or a press that can halt steeping.

See Steeping Table below for details ::