It’s actually much easier than you’d think, and the cup of tea it gives has no comparison. Keep scrolling, we’ll give you a full run through on how to brew proper loose leaf tea. And answer all your burning questions. How long do I brew? How much loose tea per cup? Which leaves? And of course - do I need a teapot? Let’s get started.
Using loose leaf tea is undoubtedly the best way to make tea. Why? Large leaves that have room to brew in their teapot give more flavourful tea. Fact. Intact leaves keep their oils and natural flavours so there’s so much more to enjoy in every cup. Plus, who doesn’t want to watch their leaves unfurling in the pot? In a manic world, it’s just the ticket to a moment to yourself.
Loose leaf tea often gets a bad reputation. People think it’s old fashioned, just tea strainers and china cups. None of that here. We’re here to show you how easy it is to make loose leaf tea and start drinking a proper cup.
How much loose leaf tea to use per cup?
Getting the ratio of tea to water right is essential with loose leaf tea. We find the sweet spot is 5g of tea per 400ml of water. But rather than weighing out minuscule amounts of tea every time, we've created a tea scoop that portions out the perfect amount of tea for our 400ml teapots. Easy.
Quick tip: if you want a stronger taste, don’t be tempted to brew your tea for longer or it will turn bitter. Just add another scoop with the same amount of water.
What’s the best teapot for loose leaf tea?
When brewing loose leaf tea, stay away from pots with filter baskets. Baskets restrict the tea’s ability to absorb water. Since that’s how it releases its flavour, it can never give you as much taste as a teapot with lots of room. We also find cramming them in will turn the tea bitter quicker.
Stick to a roomy teapot that filters the tea when you pour it. We use a borosilicate glass tea pot. It handles heat better than ceramic, and won’t stain. Plus it looks great. Perfect for tea leaf brewing and viewing.
How to brew loose leaf tea
Step 1: Choose the right tea leaves.
First things first, you’ll need some tea. The blend is up to you {although we’re always championing English Breakfast and it’s a great place to start}. Whichever blend you choose, the quality is key. You can buy “loose leaf tea” from most supermarkets, but often it’s just dust. It’ll come through the filter and make your cup of tea taste harsh and flat. To avoid a cup of bitter, soggy dust, stick to rolled, whole leaves. They’re spindly, twiggy, made from whole leaves - and the basis for a perfect cup of tea. It’s the difference between instant granules, and freshly ground coffee.
Step 2: Decide on your ratios
Measure out your loose leaf tea and water. Start with 5g of tea (2 teaspoons) per 400ml of boiling water for a great cup. Then make it yours. Loose leaf gives you so much flexibility. Feel free to play with the quantities to find your perfect strength.
Step 3: Boil the water
The right temperature depends on the leaf in your blend. Black teas need 100-degree water to brew. Too cold and they’ll turn flat. Green teas do best in 85-degree water. Too hot and they’ll taste bitter. In our pot, just throw in ¼ cold water first before topping up with boiling.
Step 4: Let it brew
Kick back and relax. It’s 3 - 5 minutes for black teas and 3 – 4 minutes for green teas. The best way to brew loose leaf tea is to simply leave it and let it do its thing. No stirring, no squishing, just a few minutes to yourself.
If you don't have our tea cards to hand, there are plenty of other things to do. Finish that chapter, butter your toast, or devise a secret handshake - the possibilities are endless.
Step 5: Add milk or sugar if you wish
We drink our loose leaf tea black to enjoy all its flavours. If you’ve been drinking supermarket tea bags, this might sound unthinkable. Unfortunately, dusty bags produce a cup of bitter tannin which is why you often need milk to soften it. If you brew with rolled, whole leaves, your cup will be clear and full of complex flavours. Milk or no milk.
We advise trying it black first, then feel free to make it your own. Add milk and sugar if that’s your thing.
Step 6: Empty and rinse
Finally, to clean up, a kitchen sieve works a treat. Just swill your pot with water and pour through the sieve. Done.
There you have it. Loose Leaf Tea. No faff. No mess. Just great tasting tea in a matter of minutes. Remember your rolled whole leaves, check those ratios and make sure you’ve got the right temperature for the leaf. Then let it do its thing in a teapot with loads of room. Voila. Loose leaf tea will make that tasty cup the highlight of your day.
Find out more about how to make tea or read with anticipation as loose leaf and tea bags go head to head.
