Tea Preparation
- One pound of tea will make approximately 220 servings.
- Our hot teabags will make 12 ounces of hot tea.
- Green teas are best prepared with a water temperature around 185 degrees.
- Oolongs are prepared with water around 205 degrees.
- Black teas are best prepared with boiling water.
- Our iced teas can be prepared either traditionally or with an iced tea brewer.
- To brew the perfect cup of tea, please see the Tea Quantities Guide and Brewing Time and Water Temperature Guide below.
Hot Tea Brewing Guide
- Boil water.
- Fill the tea pot with the boiling water and let sit for a couple of minutes.
- Pour this hot water out of the tea pot as more water is coming to a boil.
- Place the measured loose leaf tea into the tea pot.
- Add new hot water to the tea pot.
- Let brew for the time indicated in the guide below.
- Pour off the brewed tea, straining the leaves.
- Enjoy!
Tea Quantities Guide
The table below is simply a guide. Feel free to adjust quantities according to your taste preferences.
Tea | Suggested Amount of Tea to Use Per 8 ounces of Water |
Apricot | 2 level tsp |
Black Currant | 2 level tsp |
Black Jasmine | 1 rounded tsp |
Ceylon | 2 level tsp |
Chamomile | 2 rounded tbsp |
Classic Earl Grey | 2 level tsp |
Classic English Breakfast | 2 level tsp |
Classic Irish Breakfast | 2 level tsp |
Darjeeling | 2 level tsp |
Decaffeinated Earl Grey | 2 level tsp |
Decaffeinated English Breakfast | 2 level tsp |
Delicate Orange Spice™ | 2 level tsp |
Emerald Blossom™ | 1 rounded tsp |
Evening Herbal™ | 2 heaping tbsp |
Floral Ti Kuan Yin Oolong | 2 rounded tsp |
Formosa Pouchong | 2 level tsp |
French Vanilla | 2 level tsp |
Genmaicha | 1 heaping tsp |
Golden Tip Assam | 2 level tsp |
Gunpowder | 1 rounded tsp |
Jasmine Pearls | 8 pearls |
Keemun | 2 level tsp |
Kenilworth | 2 level tsp |
Lapsang Souchong | 2 level tsp |
Lung Ching/Dragonwell | 1 heaping tsp |
Min Nan Oolong | 2 rounded tsp |
Moroccan Mint | 2 level tbsp |
Pure Peppermint | 2 heaping tbsp |
Queen Victoria Blend | 2 rounded tsp |
Sencha | 2 rounded tsp |
South Island™ | 2 level tsp |
Spring Dragon™ | 1 heaping tsp |
Star-Spangled Herbal™ | 2 heaping tbsp |
Sweetberry™ | 1 heaping tsp |
Tropical Passionfruit | 2 level tsp |
Yunnan | 2 level tsp |
Brewing Time and Water Temperature Guide
Type of Tea | Brewing Time | Water Temperature |
Black Teas | 5 minutes | Boiling Water |
Oolong Tea | 7 minutes | Let the water rest for 30 seconds after coming to a boil. |
Green Tea | 3 minutes | Let the water cool for about 1 minute after coming to a boil. |
Herbal Infusions | 5 minutes | Boiling Water |
Iced Tea Brewing Guide
1-Gallon Filter Bags
- Place the 1-gallon filter bag into a heat tolerant 1-gallon pitcher.
- Add 2 quarts of boiling water to the pitcher.
- Allow the tea to brew for 15 minutes.
- Remove the filter bag, squeezing it gently to allow all of the brewed tea to remain in the pitcher.
- Add 2 quarts of cold water and stir.
- Serve over ice.
1-Quart Filter Bags
- Place the 1-quart filter bag into a heat tolerant 1-quart pitcher.
- Add 1 quart of boiling water to the pitcher.
- Allow the tea to brew of 8 minutes or longer if you prefer stronger iced tea.
- Remove the filter bag, squeezing it gently to allow all of the brewed tea to remain in the pitcher.
- Serve over ice.
Iced tea can be kept at room temperature for up to 8 hours. Refrigerated iced tea may cloud. If it does cloud, add a little hot water.
Tea Storage
Tea can be best kept for a longer time period if stored at room temperature, in a dry location, closed within the packaging it is shipped with, inside the original box and away from strong odors. Never store tea in a refrigerator or freezer. Under these conditions above, tea should easily have at least six months to a year of shelf life. Tea kept well does not spoil unless exposed to water, but its flavor may diminish over time.