Brewing tea can be as complex as a Japanese tea ceremony or as simple as tossing a teabag into your favorite mug. But any way you steep it, taking a moment for yourself to prepare a cup of tea is certainly part of the ritual’s appeal.

We offer these basic guidelines as a place for you to begin your tea enjoyment.

The Water
A truly satisfying cup of tea begins with the best water – fresh and cold from the purest source available.

For oolong and black teas, use water right off a rolling boil. Don’t let the water keep boiling though, or it will lose too much oxygen and result in a flat-tasting tea.

White tea and green tea should be brewed with water that is cooler than boiling; just sit back and wait a minute or two after the water has reached a boil.

Steeping
Rather than steep by color, start by following the time recommended on the package. Then, adjust the length of time according to your personal taste. Once you’ve found the time that works for you, follow it to ensure consistency from cup to cup. Be sure to remove the teabag after the desired time has passed. Don’t just let the tea sit and continue to infuse.

Loose Leaf
For loose tea, measure out one teaspoon per cup. Be sure to choose an infuser or strainer with holes small enough to contain the leaf particles. We’ve found the disposable t-sac filter papers to be an excellent option (and they can be composted).