How to brew the perfect cup of tea

A Tea Taster’s Guide to Bringing Out the Best in Every Cup

Great tea doesn’t need complicated equipment. It simply needs the right tea-to-water ratio, temperature, time and attention. Whether you’re brewing a delicate Darjeeling First Flush, a refreshing green tea or a comforting herbal tisane, these simple principles will help you get more flavour and aroma from every cup.

1. Start with Fresh Tea

The quality and freshness of your tea make a difference.

Use good-quality loose-leaf tea or whole-leaf pyramid tea bags, and store your tea away from light, heat, moisture and strong aromas.

Fresh tea allows the natural character of the leaves, herbs and botanicals to shine through.

Tea Taster’s Tip: Don’t keep tea for years simply because it is unopened. Tea is at its best when enjoyed while it is fresh.

2. Use the Right Water Temperature

Not every tea likes boiling water.

Delicate green teas and First Flush Darjeeling can become harsh or lose their delicate floral character when brewed with water that is too hot.

If you don’t have a temperature-controlled kettle, allow freshly boiled water to cool for a few minutes before brewing delicate teas.

3. Measure Your Tea

Too little tea can produce a weak, flat cup. Too much can overpower its natural character.

As a starting point, use approximately 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per 200 ml of water.

For pyramid tea bags, one pyramid tea bag per 200 ml cup is a good starting point. You can adjust the quantity according to the tea and your personal preference.

Remember: More tea is not always the answer. Sometimes a longer steep is the reason a cup tastes too strong.

4. Respect the Steeping Time

Steeping is where the magic happens.

Allow the leaves enough time to release their flavour and aroma—but don’t assume that longer is always better.

Over-steeping can bring out excessive bitterness and astringency, particularly in delicate teas.

Start with the recommended brewing time, then adjust it to your taste.

A Useful Rule:
Too weak? Try slightly more tea or a little more steeping time.
Too strong or bitter? Try a shorter steep or slightly cooler water.

This is where brewing becomes personal.

5. Taste Before You Add Anything

Before adding milk, honey, sugar or lemon, take a moment to taste your tea as it is.

Notice its aroma, colour, body, sweetness, astringency and finish.

Premium tea can have layers of flavour that are easily hidden by additions.

A good Darjeeling, for example, may reveal floral, fruity, muscatel or fresh notes depending on its origin, season and processing.

Tea Taster’s Tip: Let the tea cool slightly before taking another sip. As the temperature changes, different flavours can become more noticeable.

Your Quick Brewing Guide

Tea Type	Water Temperature	Steeping Time
Darjeeling First Flush	85–90°C	2–3 min
Darjeeling Second Flush	90–95°C	3–4 min
Black Tea	90–95°C	3–5 min
Green Tea	75–85°C	2–3 min
Herbal Tea / Tisane	95–100°C	5–7 min
Rooibos	95–100°C	5–7 min

 

One Final Secret…

There is no single “perfect” cup of tea. The perfect cup is the one that allows the character of the tea to come through—and tastes perfect to you.

At ArtTeas, every tea is selected and blended with care. Brew it thoughtfully, taste it slowly, and discover what makes your cup uniquely yours.

Brew. Taste. Discover.

Explore our teas and find your next favourite cup.