A great cup of tea begins with quality leaves—but it's the way you brew them that truly unlocks their flavour and aroma. If you've ever wondered how to brew loose leaf tea, the good news is that it's simple with the right technique and the right tools.
This tea brewing guide will help you make a consistently delicious cup while introducing the essential teaware every tea lover should own.
What You'll Need
Before you begin, gather a few basic tea accessories:
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Loose leaf tea
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Fresh filtered water
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A tea infuser or tea strainer
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A teapot or brewing mug
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Your favourite teacup
Using the right teaware allows the leaves to unfurl completely, resulting in a fuller flavour and a smoother infusion.
Step-by-Step Guide to Brewing Loose Leaf Tea
1. Measure the Tea
Use approximately 1 teaspoon (2–3g) of loose leaf tea for every 200ml cup of water. Delicate teas may require slightly more, while stronger black teas can be adjusted to taste.
2. Heat the Water
Different teas brew best at different temperatures:
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Green Tea: 75–80°C
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White Tea: 80–85°C
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Oolong Tea: 85–90°C
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Black Tea & Herbal Tisanes: 95–100°C
Using water that's too hot can overpower delicate teas, while cooler water may not extract enough flavour.
3. Let the Leaves Infuse
Place the leaves in a tea infuser or teapot and pour the hot water over them.
Steep for:
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Green Tea: 2–3 minutes
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White Tea: 3–4 minutes
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Oolong Tea: 3–5 minutes
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Black Tea: 3–5 minutes
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Herbal Tisanes: 5–7 minutes
Avoid over-steeping, as it can make the tea taste bitter.
4. Strain and Serve
Remove the leaves once brewing is complete and pour your tea into a cup. Many premium whole leaf teas can be steeped multiple times, revealing new layers of flavour with each infusion.
Why Good Teaware Makes a Difference
Quality tea deserves quality brewing tools. A spacious teapot or well-designed infuser gives the leaves room to expand fully, ensuring better extraction, improved aroma, and a cleaner cup.
Whether you enjoy a quiet morning ritual or an afternoon tea break, investing in thoughtfully crafted teaware transforms the brewing experience into something you'll look forward to every day.
Build Your Tea Ritual
From elegant teapots and practical tea infusers to stylish strainers and mugs, the right accessories make brewing effortless while enhancing every cup.
Explore Karma Kettle's curated Teaware Collection to find beautifully crafted essentials designed to complement your favourite loose leaf teas.
Because every exceptional cup starts with exceptional brewing.
