Western Steeping

DEEP DIVE INTo

Western Steeping

Simple steps to steep a flavorful cup

SIMPLE STEEPING GUIDELINES

Whether you're hosting a High Tea Party, or looking to steep a quick cup of tea, reference these guidelines whenever you need a single steep or large batch

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Quick Reference Guide

TEA TO WATER

This applies to every tea:

Scoop 1 teaspoon tea for every 6oz. water

TEMPERATURE

170° for white tea and green tea
190° for oolong
200° to full boil for Black, Puerh and Herbal teas

You will still want to rinse teas that are tightly rolled, compressed or aged

STEEP TIME

3-4 minutes for White, Green, lighter Oolongs and Puerh
3-5 minutes for Black Teas (Steep 5 minutes if you plan to add milk and/or sugar)
4-5 minutes for darker or heavily roasted Oolongs
5-10 minutes for herbal tea depending on the ingredients and desired strength

PRO TIP

Make sure that the volume of your drinking vessels matches the volume of your pot. If it doesn't, make sure you can remove the leaves when you've reached your desired level of steeping. This way, the tea left in the pot won't keep steeping while you drink your first cup.

what about

Grandpa Style?

"Grandpa Style" tea, as it's affectionately called, is when you throw some leaves in a cup or thermos, pour in boiling water, and sip away.

CUP STYLE

Select a large leaf tea (longjing, oolong, blooming tea, etc)
Place the tea in a cup or mug and cover in hot water (usually boiling)
Start sipping whenever you can stand the temperature, using your upper lip to strain the leaf

THERMOS STYLE

Put a few grams of puerh or other tea in your thermos. Be sure to pick something that won't get too bitter with a long steep
Add boiling water to the thermos (rinse puerh first)
If your thermos has a strainer at the mouth, hooray! If not, you can pour or sip easily. The leaves should sink to the bottom after a while
You can keep adding hot water all day! Each brew will get lighter and lighter, but you'll get the most out of your leaf this way