A cup of tea is about 98% water, so using good quality water is imperative for making a great cup of tea. Bottled or filtered water is recommended when old plumbing imparts an unpleasant flavor, or in areas with noticeably chlorinated or hard water. The freshness of the water is important as well for its dissolved oxygen content, which seems to enhance the quality of the extraction. For this reason, never use water from the hot tap or water that has already boiled for a long time.
Preheat the pot
It is important to preheat the pot or cup in which the tea will be steeped. If poured into a cold porcelain vessel, boiling water will immediately drop several degrees, diminishing the extraction. To preheat the pot: as the water is heating in the kettle, pour a little into the pot to warm it; then pour this water off into the drinking cups to warm them.
| Type of tea |
Teaspoons per cup |
Water Temperature |
Time for steeping |
| Black |
1 |
95°C |
3-5 min. |
| Green |
1 |
75-80°C |
2-3 min. |
| White |
1 |
75-80°C |
2-3 min. |
| Yellow |
1 |
75-80°C |
2-3 min. |
| Oolong |
1 |
80-90°C |
2-3 min. |
| Pu-erh |
1 |
95°C |
1-5 min. |
| Herbal |
1 |
100°C |
10 min. |
| Fruit tea blends |
1 |
100°C |
8-10 min. |
| Rooibos |
1 |
100°C |
8-10 min. |
| Honeybush |
1 |
100°C |
8 min. |