How to brew loose leaf tea

Loose leaf tea offers a fuller flavor and more enriching experience than standard grocery store tea bags (our tea sachets use the same full leaf tea as our loose leaf options!), but brewing it properly requires a little knowledge and the right tools. Whether you’re sipping a delicate green tea or a robust pu-er, this guide walks you through every method, tool, and tip you need to make the perfect cup of loose tea.

Loose leaf tea consists of whole or partially intact leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant or herbs. Compared to grocery store bagged tea, which often contains dust or fannings, loose tea provides a more nuanced flavor, richer aroma, and higher antioxidant content. The larger leaves also allow for multiple infusions.

You don’t need a ton of gear to brew loose leaf tea, you just need the right one for your tea vibe. Here are some popular brewing tools (including a few of our favorites) that can get you started:

Ideal for brewing 2+ cups, teapots with built-in infusers allow tea leaves to expand freely. Our Tetsubin Cast Iron Teapot retains heat beautifully and comes with a stainless steel infuser.

Don’t eyeball it! Timing and temp matter. Get the most out of your leaves by brewing with precision.

1. Heat your water to the desired temperature (see chart below).

2. Add one teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 8 oz of water into your infuser.

3. Pour hot water over the tea leaves.

4. Steep for the recommended time.

5. Remove the infuser and enjoy.

Use with: Tetsubin Teapot, Everyday Infuser, Eclipse Tea Cup

Popular in China, this involves tossing tea leaves directly into a large glass and adding hot water. Let the leaves settle between sips. Great for green, oolong, and pu-erh teas.

Tip: Sip slowly to avoid munching on leaves (unless that’s part of your charm).

1. Use 5–8 grams of tea in a 100–120 ml gaiwan.

2. Rinse leaves quickly with hot water.

3. Steep in short bursts (5–45 seconds), increasing the time with each infusion.

4. Ideal for multiple steepings and exploring flavor evolution.

Used mainly for Japanese green teas:

1. Add 1 tsp of tea per 5–6 oz of water.

2. Use 160–180°F water.

3. Steep for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

1. Add 1–2 tablespoons of tea to your Craft Cold Brew Filter or tumbler infuser.

2. Fill with cold, filtered water.

3. Refrigerate for 8+ hours.

4. Enjoy within 2 days of brewing.

Use with: Craft Cold Brew Filter, Travel Tumblers

Use fresh, filtered water for best results. Spring water is ideal.

Always remove leaves after steeping to prevent bitterness.

• Oolong: Practically built for re-steeping. Flavor evolves beautifully over multiple rounds.

• Pu-er: Deep, earthy brews that get smoother and more complex with each steep.

• Green teas: Especially high-quality or whole-leaf greens can yield a delicious second cup.

• White teas: Often more subtle on the first steep, these open up nicely with a second or third round.

• Increase steep time slightly with each infusion (by 30 seconds to 1 minute).

• Use hot water at the same temperature as your first steep.

• Don’t let leaves sit wet too long—re-steep within a few hours or store in the fridge briefly.

Think of re-steeping as a tea tasting adventure: same leaves, new flavors.

• Use larger infusers or pots to give your tea leaves space to expand.

• Avoid using tea balls unless they are oversized.

• Over-steeping can make tea bitter. Always use a timer.

• Fluffier teas like white or some herbal blends may require a heaping teaspoon.

• Re-steep your tea leaves to explore new flavor layers, especially with oolong and pu-erh.

• Avoid using water that's been previously boiled—it loses oxygen and flattens taste.

• Add tea leaves directly to your mug or pot.

• Use a small mesh strainer or coffee filter to catch leaves when pouring.

• A French press can work too, but reserve it for tea only to avoid coffee flavor contamination.

With the right tools and techniques, you can unlock the full flavor, aroma, and health benefits of every cup. Whether you're into cold brews, traditional teapots, or minimalist grandpa-style brewing, there’s a perfect method for you.

Start with high-quality loose leaf tea from The Tea Spot, and let your steeping journey begin.

Explore our full collection of Steepware here.