Essential Brewing Tips to Remember

Great tea isn't complicated, it's just precise

We've dialed-in our recipes, water temperatures, timing windows, and tea-to-water ratios so you don't have to. This guide shares everything we've learned about coaxing maximum flavor from premium loose-leaf tea. No intimidating ceremonies, no unnecessary equipment, just reliable techniques that work.

The Foundation

Before You Brew: Three Things That Matter

1. Water Quality
If your water tastes off, your tea will too. We recommend filtered water for the cleanest flavor. Hard water can dull delicate teas, while distilled water leaves them flat. Spring water? Perfect middle ground.

2. Proper Storage
Keep tea in airtight containers away from light, moisture, and strong odors. That spice cabinet? Terrible neighbor for tea. We store ours in tins or sealed pouches in a cool, dry pantry. Properly stored, most teas maintain peak flavor for 12-18 months.

3. Measuring Matters
When in doubt, weigh it. Dense teas like gunpowder need less; fluffy herbals need more. When in doubt, start light—you can always add more leaf, but you can't take it back.

Temperature & Time Guide

The Quick Reference You'll Actually Use:

This brewing guide is for hot tea brewing. For iced tea, brew hot with 2x the tea, add an additional 8oz of cold water, chill in a pitcher until cold, and serve over ice.

Black Tea

200°F | 3:00-4:00 minutes | 1 tsp/8oz
Nearly boiling water unlocks black tea's bold character. Shorter steeps emphasize brightness; longer brings out malty depth.

Green Tea

175°F | 1:45-2:00 minutes | 1 tsp/8oz
Cooler water prevents bitterness. If your green tea tastes like grass clippings, your water's too hot.

Fruit Tisane

200°F | 5:00-7:00 minutes | 2 tsp/8oz
Dried fruits need time and heat to release their natural sweetness. These shine iced—brew double strength and pour over ice for instant summer.

Herbal Tea

200°F | 6:00-7:00 minutes | 1.5 tsp/8oz
No actual tea leaves here, so boiling water won't create bitterness. Steep longer for stronger flavor.

Oolong Tea

195°F | 4:00 minutes | 1 tsp/8oz
The Swiss Army knife of teas—this versatile leaf rewards precise brewing with complex, evolving flavors.

Rooibos Tea

200°F | 6:00-7:00 minutes | 1.5 tsp/8oz
This forgiving South African red bush tea loves hot water and long steeps. Naturally sweet and caffeine-free.

White Tea

175°F | 5:00-6:00 minutes | 1.5 tsp/8oz
Gentle heat preserves delicate sweetness. White tea forgives longer steeping better than most—extra time brings out honey notes.

Other Brewing Info

Brewing Recommendations

T-Sac Filters
Perfect for travel or office brewing. Fill with loose leaf, steep like a tea bag, compost when done. All the benefits of loose leaf, none of the equipment.

Cold Brew Method (Smooth & Sweet)
Our favorite summer discovery. Use 1.5x normal tea amount, add cold water, refrigerate 6-12 hours. Result? Naturally sweet tea with zero bitterness. Green and white teas especially shine this way.

Pro tip: Make cold brew concentrate using 3x tea. Mix with water or sparkling water to taste. Keeps for a week. We do this for our Chai at Sagebrush Coffee and it's amazing!

Common Mistakes to avoid

Bitter Tea
This usually means: water too hot, steeped too long, or both. Green tea suffers most from this. Set a timer—those extra minutes while you answer emails will ruin your cup.

Too Weak
Weak tea? Add more leaves, not more time. Oversteeping doesn't equal stronger tea—it equals bitter water with regrets.

The Storage Situation
We've seen beautiful tea turned tasteless by poor storage. That decorative glass jar on your sunny counter? Move it. Now.

The Perfect Cup Is Yours to Define

These guidelines give you a reliable starting point, but we encourage experimentation. Your favorite cup might need 30 seconds longer or a touch cooler water—and that's exactly right. We've been brewing tea for over a decade, and we're still discovering new preferences. Keep notes on what works, adjust to your taste, and remember: the best tea is the one you actually enjoy drinking.

Questions about brewing? We're always happy to help troubleshoot. Reach out anytime, or stop by our Chandler shop for hands-on guidance. We love talking tea almost as much as we love drinking it.