Organic Hot Tea Recipe

Heat water

Pour 12 oz (about 350 ml) filtered water into a kettle or small saucepan. Heat water to a rolling boil if using black tea (about 212°F / 100°C). If substituting with green or white tea, bring water to 175–185°F (just before boiling) and reduce steep time accordingly.

Pre-warm teapot or mug

Pour a small amount of the hot water into your teapot or mug and swirl to warm it, then discard the water. This helps maintain steeping temperature.

Measure tea

Place 2 tsp organic loose-leaf black tea (or one tea bag) into the teapot, mug infuser, or tea strainer.

Steep

Pour the heated water over the tea leaves or tea bag. Cover the teapot or place a saucer over the mug to trap heat. Steep black tea for 3–5 minutes depending on desired strength (3 minutes for medium, 5 for strong). For green tea steep 2–3 minutes; for herbal blends follow package instructions.

Strain and serve

Remove the tea bag or strain the leaves into your serving cup to stop steeping and prevent bitterness. Give the tea a quick stir.

Sweeten

If you prefer sweetened tea, stir in 1 tsp organic honey or maple syrup while the tea is hot so it dissolves fully. Adjust to taste.

Add lemon

For a citrus note, add 1 tsp fresh organic lemon juice to the brewed tea and stir. Add after sweetening if using both.

Add milk (optional for black tea)

If you like milk tea, add 2 tbsp organic milk or plant-based milk and stir gently. Add milk after straining to avoid over-extraction.

Mint garnish

If using fresh mint, slap 4 mint leaves between your palms to release aroma and float them on top of the finished tea or steep briefly (30–60 seconds) with the tea for a subtle infusion.

Taste and adjust: sample the tea and add more sweetener, lemon, or milk per your preference. Serve hot in a pre-warmed cup. For iced variation, allow tea to cool slightly then pour over ice (serve immediately or chill).

Storage: Freshly brewed tea is best consumed immediately. If you must store, refrigerate in a covered container up to 24 hours and reheat gently or serve over ice.