Beginner guide
New to loose leaf tea? Start with flavor, not rules.
The easiest first tea is usually the one that sounds good to you. Choose by flavor, caffeine, and when you want to drink it, then use a simple brewing ratio.
Classic tea drinkers
Start with black teas, Earl Grey, vanilla, lavender, or berry black teas.
Evening tea drinkers
Start with caffeine-free herbal, rooibos, honeybush, chamomile, ginger, or fruit blends.
Lighter tea drinkers
Start with jasmine, lemon, blueberry, pomegranate, or other fragrant green teas.
A simple first-cup method.
Use 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 8 oz cup. If the cup tastes thin, use more leaf next time. If it tastes too strong, use less leaf or shorten the steep. Good tea is allowed to be personal.
Black tea usually likes boiling water and a longer steep. Green tea is happier below boiling and with a shorter steep. Herbal, fruit, rooibos, and honeybush blends can usually handle boiling water and a longer steep.