1: Water

It all starts with the water.

I could probably write the importance of clean water for the rest of my life. It really is simple though. Buy water that is purified by reverse osmosis. This is another subject I find myself extremely passionate about. Not only for your health and the health of your family, but tea tastes as it should; at it’s finest with the right water.

Black tea likes boiling water to brew. Green and white tea like hot water, not quite boiling.

Why? It all has to do with oxidation. Black tea leaves are more oxidized, so they can handle higher water temperatures. Check out our blog on How Tea is Made to give you a more in-depth look into exactly what makes each kind of tea.

2: Container

Any tea cup will suffice to brew your tea in.

If you’re becoming more of a tea enthusiast, you may want to invest in a really nice earthenware teapot. As with traditional tea brewing, an un-glazed earthenware tea pot will provide you the most benefits from your tea. It brings out the full flavor and body of the brew. Over time though, it can absorb some of the tea flavor from the tea brewed into it so it’s recommended that you use only one kind of tea per un-glazed pot. Glazed earthenware, though is a very good option and you can brew any kind of tea in it without the risk of absorbing the tea flavors.

3: Steep Time

Most teas are recommended to brew anywhere from 1-5 minutes, depending on the kind of leaves you’re brewing. When in doubt, land somewhere in the middle at around 3 minutes. If you brew your tea for too long, though, you can end up with a pretty bitter brew, especially green tea.