How to brew the perfect cup of tea — a heated debate

Water - to filter or not to filter for the perfect brew?

A cup of tea is mainly water. So water matters. Tap water, bottled water or filtered water will all create different results from the same tea leaves. For most of us, that means choosing between plain old tap water — in either a hard water or soft water area — or filtering it. 

Hard water has absorbed lots of minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron as it has travelled through rocks. That can leave a ‘scum’ floating on your tea and make it taste heavier with perhaps a metallic overtone. Soft water (and filtered water) tastes softer and lighter, although it can result in the tea being over-extracted and tasting slightly bitter. It’s a case of trial and error to decide whether you’re happy with the water straight from the tap.

Whatever water you make tea with, it should ideally be freshly poured and boiled. That way, it will retain its oxygen and create the optimum taste. Don’t keep reboiling over and over again (we’re all guilty), as the liquid evaporates and leaves a higher concentration of minerals and contaminants, potentially affecting the flavour of those beautiful leaves.

Tea leaves vs. tea bags — which side are you on?

Grabbing a tea bag and throwing it in a tea pot or mug is the quick answer to a tea craving. But many aficionados opt for loose leaf tea and savour the gentle rituals and mindfulness of tea preparation. So does loose leaf tea taste better than bagged? The answer is yes. Tea bags are mass produced and may not taste as good due to the fact they may be made from lower tea grades (dust and fannings). Loose tea leaves will be higher quality due to being made from whole leaves or broken up parts, and will give you more nutrients too.

How to brew loose leaf tea

Making loose leaf tea means the quantities aren’t measured out for you, so you’ll need to know how much per cup. If you decide to treat yourself to a box or tin of quality loose leaf tea, then a good rule of thumb is a teaspoon (2g) per cup, although it depends on the tea leaf size. Think of a teaspoon of loose leaf tea as roughly equivalent to a tea bag (1.5-3g). 

When making tea with tea leaves, you’ll need something to filter them out when it’s ready to drink. You can strain them over the cup with a tea strainer when you pour from your tea pot (or even use a coffee filter or paper towel if you don’t have one to hand). Or, you can go for a ball infuser, which neatly holds the tea leaves in a mesh. There’s lots of fun to be had in browsing unusual tea infusers, shaped, for example, like submarines, turtles or flowers.

Water temperature - how hot is too hot?

If you think heating the water for tea is just a matter of letting the kettle or pan boil, think again! Like most aspects in the art of tea making, there’s a lot to consider. Let’s dive in…

Making tea with a variable temperature kettle

A standard kettle boils water at a temperature of 100°C. Fine if you’re making a black tea, hot chocolate or instant soup. But many types of tea require a different temperature if you want to get the finest taste from the leaves. Too high a temperature and those precious leaves are scalded, potentially making them break down and release tannins. That’s why temperature control kettles like the Variable Temperature Kettle 1.5L are ideal for tea lovers, giving you a handy range of temperatures to choose from. Respect those tea leaves with the tea temperature guide below and you’ll be savouring every sip.

Ideal water temperature for different types of tea

Note: temperatures are for guidance only. Always check the instructions on the packaging.

Don’t forget to warm the cup or pot

The temperature of your water isn’t the only important factor when making a superb cup. You can help to maintain the ideal temperature by preheating the cups, mugs and pot if you’re using one. Just swill around some hot water beforehand. This makes sure the water doesn’t cool too quickly when you make the tea and that the full, rich flavour is extracted. 

How long should you brew tea? 

Strong tea or weak tea — it’s all a matter of taste. Some of us leave our tea to steep long enough to make a dark and aromatic cup. Others prefer it weak. Does that say anything about personalities? No, just about our palates! In general, it’s best to brew tea for about 3 minutes. Or up to 5 minutes for an intense mouthful. However, it depends which tea you’re drinking. A white or green tea only needs 1 to 3 minutes, while a rooibos or herbal tea can be steeped for 5 minutes before it starts to stew. Always read the guidance on the packet for delicious results. 

Tip: loose leaf teas take longer to steep than their tea bag cousins.

Milk in first or tea in first - which side are you on?

This particular debate is so hotly debated that it has two distinct camps:  TIFFY AND MIFFY.  Tea experts tend to agree on tea-in-first: tea should be steeped to the desired strength first, and then milk added to taste. But scientific studies have concluded the opposite view, and there are many who swear that milk-in-first creates a better-tasting drink. This could be a result of the proteins in the milk binding with tannin compounds to prevent a bitter flavour.

Quick tips on brewing your tea

The debates around how to brew tea are as strong as a well-stewed mug. So it’s no surprise that this beloved beverage is surrounded by tradition and controversy. While we’ll never all agree on the best way to brew a perfect cup of tea, here’s a reminder of our tea-making tips.

• Hard water may ruin the flavour, so consider filtering 

• Freshly drawn (poured) and boiled water tastes best 

• Loose leaf tea is a higher quality that gives a fuller flavour

• A variable temperature kettle allows temperature control

• Warm the cup, mug or pot if you can beforehand

• Steep the tea for as long as it advises on the packaging

• Milk first or tea first... let’s leave that one there shall we?