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How to Brew Tea at Home

Bhakti Satalkar
Warm up your mind, body, and soul with a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Learn how to make it right from this story.
Every culture has different customs and rituals associated with drinking tea. For example, tea ceremony in Japan has a long history and it is one of the strict practices which often takes many years to master. But you don't have to worry yourself with all those details.
In this post, we will provide you with simple techniques on how you can brew a wonderful cup of tea.

A Few Necessary Details

The temperature of water shouldn't be too high for brewing tea. It should ideally be around 165 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is anything more than this, chances are high that your tea will become bitter quickly. The total amount of time to steep tea will depend on your preference.
If you don't like your tea strong, remove the leaves or tea bag in about 3 minutes, and if you like your tea strong, leave it a minute or two longer. For a better understanding on how long to steep tea for and at what temperature, here's the complete information.

Type of Tea - Water Temperature: In degrees Fahrenheit(Steeping Time)

  • Black Tea- 205 to 212 (3 to 5 minutes)
  • Oolong Tea- 185 to 200 (3 to 5 minutes)
  • Green Tea- 165 to 185  (2 to 4 minutes)
  • White Tea- 160 to 175 (2 to 3 minutes)
  • Herbal Tea- 205 to 212 (5 to 7 minutes)

Using Tea Bags

Always use 1 tea bag for every cup of tea you make. Boil 1½ cups of water while you put a tea bag into the cup. Turn the heat off and wait for couple of minutes before you pour the water in. After you've added the water, let the tea steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the tea bag, add honey, slice of ginger, or a few drops of lemon juice before serving.

Using Tea Leaves

Fill a kettle of water and bring it to boil. While the water is boiling, place desired quantity of tea leaves in a pot. Turn the heat off and wait for couple of minutes before you pour the water in.
Add water into the pot and let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes. strain and serve the tea. Use a strainer while pouring the tea into the cup. You can add sugar, honey, milk, or lemon to the tea just before serving.

Adding Milk to the Tea

Take equal quantities of water and milk in a pot and bring it to a boil. Add tea leaves and let it boil for a minute or two, depending on how strong you want the tea to get. You can add sugar, pieces of ginger, and/or crushed cardamom pods while the tea boils. Remove the pot from heat and let strain the tea into a cup, and serve.