How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea: The Complete Guide
Loose leaf tea makes a better cup than tea bags. The leaves have room to open up, so you get fuller flavour, more antioxidants, and a cleaner finish. Brewing it well takes a few minutes to learn, and once you have, you probably won't go back to bags.
This guide covers water temperature, steeping times, equipment, and the small changes that turn a decent cup into a great one. We wrote it with Himalayan loose leaf teas from Nepal in mind, grown at 5,000 to 7,000 ft in Ilam and Taplejung, because they behave a little differently from other teas.
What you need to brew loose leaf tea
Not much. All you really need is something to hold the leaves and some hot water; everything else is fine-tuning.
You'll want a tea infuser or strainer: a mesh ball, a basket infuser, or any fine strainer. What matters is that the leaves have room to expand. A tight mesh ball doesn't give them much, so a basket infuser is better. A kettle is the next thing, and if you drink green or white tea, an electric kettle with temperature control is worth buying, because boiling water damages those teas. Use a ceramic or glass mug or teapot, which holds heat well, rather than plastic. And use a measuring spoon; start with 1.5 teaspoons per 250ml (8oz).
Water temperature: the most important variable
Nothing affects the quality of loose leaf tea more than the water temperature. Water that's too hot turns delicate teas bitter, and water that's too cool leaves black teas tasting flat.
| Tea Type | Temperature | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White tea | 75 to 80°C (167 to 176°F) | Never boil. Higher temperatures destroy the delicate floral notes. |
| Green tea | 75 to 85°C (167 to 185°F) | Boiling water makes it bitter and grassy. |
| Floral Oolong | 85°C (185°F) | The lower temperature keeps the honey blossom character. |
| Dark Oolong / Black tea | 90 to 95°C (194 to 203°F) | Just off the boil. A full boil can flatten the cup. |
No thermometer? Bring the water to a full boil, then let it sit for 2 minutes to reach about 85°C, or 4 minutes to reach about 75°C.
Steeping times by tea type
| Tea Type | First Steep | Second Steep | Third Steep |
|---|---|---|---|
| White tea | 2 to 3 min | 3 to 4 min | 4 to 5 min |
| Green tea | 2 to 3 min | 3 min | 3 to 4 min |
| Oolong tea | 3 to 4 min | 4 min | 4 to 5 min |
| Black tea | 3 to 4 min | 4 to 5 min | 5 min |
Good whole-leaf teas give up their flavour gradually. The second steep is often the most balanced, and the third brings out natural sweetness.
Step by step: how to brew loose leaf tea
- Heat the water to the right temperature for your tea.
- Warm your mug with a splash of hot water, then pour it out.
- Measure 1.5 teaspoons per 250ml into your infuser.
- Pour the water gently over the leaves.
- Set a timer and take the leaves out as soon as it goes off.
- Taste, and adjust next time.
Why Nepal Hills tea brews differently
No bitterness, by design
Every one of our teas is grown at 5,000 to 7,000 ft in Ilam and Taplejung. Up there, the cooler weather slows the leaf's growth, and that naturally lowers the tannins that make lower-grown teas bitter. The teas taste sweet without sugar or milk, though you're welcome to add either.
Whole leaves need room
Our teas are hand-picked, whole-leaf, and lightly processed. The leaves are big and need space to open up fully, so a basket infuser or teapot strainer works much better than a tight mesh ball.
The muscatel note
Our Muscatel Black Tea from Norling Speciality Tea in Ilam has a distinctive honey-grape aroma that comes through most at 90 to 93°C. Let the kettle sit for 1 to 2 minutes after it boils before you pour.
Multiple steeps
Nepali whole-leaf teas, especially Floral Oolong and Floral White Tea, are worth steeping 2 to 3 times. Add 1 minute to each steep after the first.
Common brewing mistakes
The most common mistake is pouring boiling water on green or white tea. It scorches the amino acids and makes the tea bitter, so cool the water to 75 to 85°C first. Oversteeping is next: 30 extra seconds can take a black tea from bold to astringent, so set a timer every time.
Tap water is another culprit, since chlorine noticeably changes the flavour; filtered or spring water makes a real difference. Finally, don't pack the infuser tight. The leaves need room to move, and a crammed infuser gives a weak, uneven cup.
Cold brew loose leaf tea
Cold water pulls flavour out slowly over 8 to 12 hours, and the result is smoother and sweeter, with less bitterness. Add 3 to 4g of tea to 500ml of cold filtered water, refrigerate overnight, then strain and serve over ice. Our Dark Oolong and Ruby Black Tea are excellent cold-brewed.
Not sure where to start?
The Nepal Hills Tea Sampler Kit (CAD $30) has 10 single-origin teas from Ilam and Taplejung, 5g of each, which is enough for 3 to 4 cups per tea, with brewing notes for every tea in the box. It's the easiest way to find your favourite before buying a larger size.
Shop by tea type
- Floral Green Tea | Organic Light Green Tea: from CAD $10
- Floral White Tea | Fresh White Tea: from CAD $10
- Floral Oolong | Dark Oolong: from CAD $10
- Muscatel Black | Ruby Black | Gold Black Tea: from CAD $10
- Tea Sampler Kit, all four types, 10 teas: CAD $30
Related Reading
- Green Tea Benefits: What Science Says
- White Tea Benefits: Why the Least Processed Tea May Be the Healthiest
- Black Tea Benefits: What the Research Actually Shows
- Oolong Tea Benefits: What the Science Actually Says
- Loose Leaf Tea vs Tea Bags: Is There a Real Difference?
- Single Origin Tea: What It Means and Why It Matters
