How to Brew Loose Leaf Black Tea
A proper cup of black tea relies on the relationship between water temperature and time. Treat the leaves with respect, give them room to expand, and you will get a clear, robust brew every time.
Start with fresh, cold water.
Oxygen in the water helps open up the tea leaves; re-boiling water that has been sitting in the kettle will result in a flat, dull infusion.
- Kettle
- Tea infuser or strainer
- Teapot or mug
- Timer
What goes in.
- 1 tsploose leaf black tea
- 8 ozfreshly drawn cold water
Use an ample infuser
Tea leaves swell to several times their dry size; if they are crammed into a tiny mesh ball, they cannot hydrate properly, leading to a weak infusion.
The method.
Heat the water
Bring the fresh water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat immediately once it reaches this stage to keep the oxygen levels high.
Warm the vessel
Pour a splash of the hot water into your mug or teapot, swirl it to heat the ceramic, and discard. This keeps your tea hot for longer.
Steep
Place the leaves in your infuser. Pour the water directly over the leaves. Start your timer for 3 minutes.
Remove the leaves
Lift the infuser out of the water the moment the timer hits 3 minutes. Do not squeeze the leaves, as this releases bitter oils.
Other turns to take.
Iced Tea
Double the amount of tea leaves for the same volume of water. Steep as usual, then pour the hot concentrate immediately over a tall glass packed with ice.
London Fog
Brew the tea at double strength, then stir in a teaspoon of vanilla syrup and top with steamed, frothed milk.
When it doesn't go to plan.
If you are brewing in a teapot, place the leaves directly in the pot and pour the tea through a handheld strainer into the cups to allow maximum leaf expansion.
Store your leaves in an opaque, airtight tin away from spices or coffee; tea leaves act like a sponge for nearby odors.
If the tea tastes harsh or bitter, reduce your steeping time by 30 seconds next time, rather than changing the amount of tea.
The ones that keep coming up.
Should I boil the tea leaves?
No. Boiling the leaves directly creates a bitter, astringent mess. Only the water should reach a boil.
Can I reuse the leaves?
You can re-steep higher-quality whole leaf teas, though the second infusion will be lighter in body and require an extra minute of steeping time.
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