Brewing a Cup of Tea

by Whittard of Chelsea

Tea is a morning ritual with no rival. It's a delightful afternoon reset. And it's the first port of call in a crisis. But the right way to make the perfect cup of tea is widely contested - so consider this our (perfectly hot) take.

Published 20/8/26. Reviewed 23/9/26

How to brew loose leaf tea

Making the move from teabags to loose leaf? We firmly believe tea leaves are just as simple to use, but we have been honing our technique for over 140 years...

Here are three of our top techniques for fragrant, satisfying results, every time.

Step 01

Fresh water, brighter taste

Use freshly drawn water for every cup you brew - either from a filter, or tap is just fine too. Why? Fresh water means higher oxygen and a cleaner, brighter taste.

Step 02

Match tea to temperature

There’s no single sweet spot for temperature. Most black
teas should be brewed at 90°C, while Matcha Green Tea is best made at 70°C. A kettle with different temperatures will help you get the perfect brew for all your favourite blends.

Step 03

Strength by spoonful

Be it a family-sized pot or a solo strainer, just remember: use one teaspoon (around 2g) per cup of tea, or two per cup if you're brewing white tea, yellow tea or a fruit and herbal infusion.

How Long Should I Brew?

Each of our teas tells you how many minutes to brew, but it all depends on your taste. As a general rule, more robust teas reach the best strength between 3-5 minutes infusing, while delicate teas like Darjeeling, white and green teas should only be infused for around 2-3 minutes.

Tea Type	Boiling Temperature	Steeping Time
Black	95-98°C	3-5 Minutes
Green	65-80°C	2-3 Minutes
Oolong	85-95°C	2-3 Minutes
Yellow	70-80°C	2-3 Minutes
White	75-85°C	2-3 Minutes
Fruit & Herbal	100°C	3-5 Minutes