How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea and Herbal Blends at Home

Start with three numbers: tea, water, time

Loose leaf tea is simple once you know three things: how much tea, how much water, and how long to steep. Mountain Rose Herbs prints its brew instructions on each product page, so you do not have to guess. Think of those directions as a starting point. Brew guidance differs between tea makers, and your own taste is the final judge.

For three of its loose teas, Gunpowder Green, Genmaicha and Golden Black, Mountain Rose Herbs gives the same pattern: fill 1 teaspoon of tea in a cloth tea bag or mesh basket, pour 8 ounces of boiling water over it, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Jasmine Pearls Tea uses the same teaspoon and the same 8 ounces of boiling water, but a much shorter steep of 1 to 2 minutes. Those green tea leaves are rolled into small pearls and scented with jasmine blossoms, and the product page describes a light floral aroma with a smooth vegetal flavor.

Herbal blends call for a bigger spoon. Evening Repose Tea, a caffeine free mix of chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, lavender, lemon verbena and rose petals, lists 1 tablespoon of tea per 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep it 3 to 5 minutes, or until it reaches the strength you like.

Matcha is its own ritual

Matcha works differently from leaf tea because you never strain it out. The Mountain Rose Herbs product page explains that the word matcha literally means "finely powdered tea," and that it is made from young green tea leaves. You drink the whole leaf, ground fine.

The brewing instructions are short. Add 1/2 teaspoon of matcha to 5 oz. of hot water and whisk thoroughly for 45 seconds. The page notes that fine powder may settle to the bottom of the cup, so give it a quick stir before your last few sips. It lists "hot water" and does not give a temperature, so heat the water and adjust to taste.

Mountain Rose Herbs describes this matcha as ceremonial grade and shade grown in the Kyoto Prefecture of Japan, with a grassy, green aroma and a mildly sweet flavor.

Strainers, tea bags or a teapot?

Most brew instructions above begin the same way: put the tea in "a cloth tea bag or mesh basket." Pick a tool by how many cups you make.

A mesh strainer for one mug

The Celestial Tea Strainer is a stainless steel mesh basket with a celestial design around the rim. Mountain Rose Herbs lists the mesh at 2 inches across and the outer rim at 3.75 inches, and says it suits all sizes of mugs and fits well on small teapots. Place a small amount of tea inside, set it in your cup of hot water, and lift it out when the steep is done.

Tea bags you fill yourself

Press 'N Brew Tea Bags are empty bags you fill with any loose tea or blend, then iron shut. The small size is 2.25 by 2.25 inches, which the product page calls good for single cups. The large size is 4 by 5 inches, good for whole pots. Filled bags are easy to pack for work or share as a gift.

A glass teapot for sharing

The Fuji Glass Teapot comes in 18 oz. and 32 oz. sizes. Its extra fine stainless steel strainer is built into the lid, which the product page says gives loose leaf tea the most space to unfurl. The pot is made of lead-free borosilicate glass and is listed as dishwasher safe and microwave safe.

Steeping again, iced tea and taming bitterness

Some teas can be brewed more than once. Mountain Rose Herbs says the long, twisting leaves of its Golden Black Tea can be steeped 2 to 3 times per cup. Each round tastes a little different, so sip and decide when the leaves are done. The other tea pages in this guide do not mention steeping again, so try it by taste.

Golden Black Tea comes from what the product page calls Nepal's first cooperative tea operation. The page describes a light, natural chocolate flavor and honeyed sweetness.

For iced tea, start with a tea the maker suggests for it. Mountain Rose Herbs says Golden Black Tea is pleasant brewed hot or chilled, and it calls Evening Repose "Great iced." Brew as usual, let the tea cool, then pour it over ice. Melting ice thins the tea, so you may like a slightly stronger brew.

If a cup tastes too strong or harsh, change one thing at a time. Use a little less tea or a shorter steep. Mountain Rose Herbs describes Gunpowder Green as astringent and mildly bitter, and suggests a very small pinch of stevia or spearmint to soften the taste. Several of its tea pages end with the same friendly advice: experiment with steep time and quantity of tea to find your ideal cup.

Storing loose tea at home

Good storage keeps tea tasting fresh. On its Press 'N Brew page, Mountain Rose Herbs advises storing unused bagged teas in a sealed container to maintain freshness. The same idea works for loose tea: keep the lid on between uses.

The company's FAQ says it packs products in materials such as glass, multi-layer bags and recyclable tin to keep the botanicals inside fresh. If you move tea into a new jar, write the tea name and its brew instructions on a label. That way the spoon size and steep time are right there when you reach for it.