Brewed Tea Recipe

Heat water

Pour 4 cups fresh cold water into a kettle or saucepan. Heat until it reaches a gentle boil (212°F / 100°C). If using green tea instead of black, heat to about 175–185°F (80–85°C) — remove from heat just before boiling.

While water heats, warm your teapot or serving pitcher by rinsing it with a little hot water, then discard that water. This helps maintain steeping temperature.

Measure tea

For 4 cups water, measure 4 teaspoons of loose-leaf black tea (approximately 1 tsp per cup). If using green tea, use the same volume but be sure to use lower water temperature.

Add tea to teapot

Place the loose tea in a tea infuser, teapot basket, or directly in the teapot if you plan to strain later.

Pour water over tea

Immediately pour the hot water over the tea leaves in the teapot. Pour briskly to circulate the leaves and bring out flavor.

Steep

Let the tea steep: 3–5 minutes for black tea (3 minutes for lighter, 5 minutes for robust), 2–3 minutes for green tea. Cover the pot while steeping to retain heat and aroma. Taste at the lower end of the time range and extend if needed.

Strain

After steeping, remove the infuser or strain the tea into a heatproof pitcher or directly into cups to stop extraction. Do not squeeze the leaves — squeezing can release bitter compounds.

Sweeten or add extras

If desired, stir in sugar (about 2 tsp) or honey (1 tbsp) while the tea is hot so it dissolves easily. Add milk or cream (1 tbsp per cup) for a milky tea, or add a slice of lemon and a few mint leaves for a bright, fresh note. Adjust to taste.

Serve

Pour into warmed cups and serve immediately. For iced tea, allow brewed tea to cool slightly, then pour over ice and garnish with lemon and mint.