Tea is not only a beverage; it's a gateway to wellness, connection, and daily pleasure. A way of life, some might say, and we couldn't agree more!

If you've followed Webster's for a while, you'll know we're advocates for slowing down and allowing time for our tea-making ritual. However, we understand that sometimes, a quick, spontaneous cup is desired. This doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on delicious flavour and quality!

Today, we're sharing some fun facts and easy-to-adopt tips to ensure your cup of tea consistently hits the spot, every time. Because when you imbue each brew with intention and a touch of finesse, you can always taste the difference. Keep reading if you'd like to become a tea-brewing aficionado...

How to Brew Black Tea

1 tsp, 100°C, 3-5 minutes

Derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, black tea leaves have a lengthened oxidising process, giving the tea its signature full-bodied flavour. Rich, aromatic, and delicious, black tea is commonly blended to create some of our most well-loved brews, including English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Chai. 

Black tea requires a good rolling boil (100 °C), and should be poured on top of your leaves immediately so the flavonoids can be released instantaneously. We recommend 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per 250ml cups of boiling water, then allow brewing for 3-5 minutes only. If you brew your tea longer, this might result in a bitter brew that leaves a dry feeling in your mouth.

How to Brew Green Tea

1 tsp, 80°C, 3-5 minutes

Green tea is not oxidised as extensively as black tea, meaning it doesn't withstand high water temperatures. Ideally, your water temperature should be around 70-80 °C. A handy hack to achieve 80°C water at home is to pour about 20% cold water over the tea leaves in your mug before pouring the just-boiled water from the jug. 

Regarding ratio, we recommend 1-2 tsp of green tea per 250ml water, with a brewing period of 2-3 minutes. Steep your tea for no more than 3 minutes to make the most of its lovely benefits. 

How to Brew Herbal and Rooibos Tea

1 tsp, 100°C, 6-8 minutes

Because herbal tea doesn't contain Camellia Sinensis, the tea plant which can easily be over-brewed and become bitter, you can be more easygoing when brewing herbal blends without affecting the flavour as much. We recommend adding 1-2 tsp of loose-leaf tea to about 250ml water, with 6-8 minutes of brewing. A pretty tea pot makes the process much easier. 

Final Thoughts

A pleasant and strong-tasting tea comes from the amount of tea used rather than a lengthy brew time. Remember that brewing your tea for longer will likely result in a bitter-tasting cup. We encourage you to use a nifty timer, and find joy in experimenting with slightly different measurements to discover your perfect strength. With all this said, a deep craving just hit, so we're wrapping this up to go brew ourselves a pot. 

Happy brewing!