How to Make Tea From Loose Tea Leaves

Tea leaves are aromatic and flavorful.

Tea is an art in many cultures, and the use of loose tea leaves can be an avenue into exploring a variety of flavors. The effect of the water meeting the tea leaves directly will produce a more intense taste than tea steeped in a bag. Use fresh water and warm your teapot before brewing by rinsing it with hot water to ensure a consistent temperature. While the tea should be brewed to your taste, general guidelines exist to help you make the perfect cup.

Things You'll Need

• Teapot
• Kettle
• Tea infuser

Instructions

1. Measure the amount of leaves you will require for your tea. Use 3 grams of leaves for every 6 oz. of tea. Depending on the weight of your particular tea blend, this will equal between 1 and 2 tbsp. of leaves.

2. Place the leaves in your teapot or teacup. If you are brewing single servings, it is best to use an infuser, which will keep the leaves contained while allowing water to reach the leaves. If you are brewing a full teapot, the tea leaves can be placed loose in the pot.

3. Heat your water to the appropriate temperature. This will depend on the kind of tea leaf you are using, but as a general rule, tea should never be brewed using boiling water. This level of heat can prevent the flavor from coming out of the leaves. Instead, use water that has been heated to near boiling for black and herbal teas. For green teas, use water that is even less hot, and pour it out of the kettle just as small bubbles begin to rise from the bottom of your kettle.

4. Pour your water over the tea leaves. Cover the individual serving cups or the teapot.

5. Brew for the length of time appropriate to your tea. Generally, smaller tea leaves will have quicker brewing times. Green teas can brew in one to three minutes; black teas in three to five minutes; and herbal teas five to 15 minutes. Taste your tea periodically during brewing if you are using a new kind of tea for the first time. Pour it into serving cups as soon as the taste is to your liking.

Tips & Warnings

• A French press can also be used to make tea with loose leaves. Place the leaves in the bottom of the press, add the water, replace the press plunger and allow to brew. Press down on the plunger when ready to serve.

References

• Agape Tea: How to Brew Loose Leaf Teas
• The Fragrant Leaf: Basic Tea Brewing and Storage

Resources

• Libre Tea: About Loose Leaf Tea