How to Make Tea: Brewing Tips for the Best Hot & Cold Teas

Who doesn’t love a good cup of tea? It’s more than just a drink—it's a global tradition that brings people together. From the balanced flavors of Chinese tea to the elegant tea ceremonies of Japan and a comforting cup shared among friends in England, tea holds a special place in cultures worldwide. Hot or iced, tea offers a moment of relaxation and connection. 

Sure, making tea is a simple task, but with the right techniques, you can transform a simple drink into a more enjoyable experience full of natural flavors and aromas. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to prepare tea, helping you brew the perfect cup of tea every time!

Before you get started, you’ll need to prepare some essential tools and ingredients:

• - Kettle: Microwaving your water can make the tea taste flat so it’s best if you use a kettle to boil it. A traditional stovetop kettle will be enough. You can also opt for an electric kettle which can boil faster. Some electric kettles even offer temperature controls that are ideal for brewing delicate teas.

• - Teapot: A teapot can be great if you want to prepare more tea, especially when serving multiple people. You can even consider using handcrafted teapots and teaware from Wang De Chuan to create a more authentic, soothing experience. Also, an important tip for hot tea is to preheat the teapot with hot water before brewing. This helps maintain the tea’s temperature and enhances the overall flavor.
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• - Teacup or Mug: If you only want to make one serving, you can brew it straight in the cup. Like the teapot, preheating your cup with warm water for hot tea or chilling it for iced tea can help you preserve the ideal temperature of your tea.

• - Tea Infuser or Strainer: If you’re using loose-leaf tea, an infuser or strainer can help to separate the tea leaves from the drink, ensuring a smooth texture and the best taste.

• - Tea Bags or Loose-Leaf Tea: The choice between these two is completely up to you. Tea bags can be convenient while loose-leaf often offer a more authentic experience. If you are considering tea bags, we recommend using whole-leaf tea bags like the ones from Wang De Chuan Tea, as they retain more of the natural flavors and fragrance.
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• - Water: Quality water can affect the tea’s flavor. Use fresh, filtered, or spring water for the best taste. Avoid distilled water, as it can make your tea taste flat. Tap water isn’t a good choice either, as the minerals inside might introduce unwanted bitterness.
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• - Optional Sweeteners or Additions: Depending on the type of tea and your personal preferences, you can prepare some sugar, honey, milk, or lemon to spice things up.

First, we’ll go through the steps of making hot tea with tea bags and loose leaves. By learning how to brew hot tea, you’ll grasp the basic steps to make a perfect, flavorful cup.

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Tea bags offer the simplest way to brew tea. Just follow these steps: 

1. 1. Put a tea bag in your teapot or cup.
2. 2. Heat fresh water until it reaches a rolling boil.
3. 3. Pour the boiled water over the tea bag.
4. 4. Let the tea bag steep for the recommended time based on the type of tea. For instance, black tea usually takes 2-4 minutes, while oolong tea takes longer, around 3-6 minutes. We will provide more details about the recommended brewing in later sections of this article, so stay tuned.
5. 5. Remove the tea bag to serve. Avoid squeezing the tea bag to prevent bitterness.

Making tea with loose leaves can be just as easy:

1. 1. Based on the servings you need, place the desired amount of loose-leaf tea in a tea infuser or strainer.
2. 2. Put the infuser in your cup or teapot. 
3. 3. Boil fresh water in the kettle.
4. 4. Pour the hot water over the tea leaves. Try doing this in a circular motion so that the leaves heat up evenly.
5. 5. Brew your tea according to the recommended steeping time. 
6. 6. Take out the infuser and enjoy your tea.

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Most hot tea can be re-steeped for 1 or 2 additional brews. You’ll realize how each brew offers a unique flavor with subtle variations, making re-steeping a fascinating experience itself! Use slightly hotter water and add an extra minute to the brewing time for each re-steep to let the flavors develop.

Cold tea can be a refreshing alternative, especially on warm days. There are two ways you can make cold tea, and similarly, it can be made with tea bags or loose tea leaves. Some brands even offer specialized cold steeping tea bags so that you can have the best flavors when making them iced or cold brewed.

The steps for making iced tea are very straightforward:

1. 1. Put a tea bag into your teapot or cup. Alternatively, place the required amount of tea leaves into your tea infuser before putting it into your teapot or cup.
2. 2. Bring fresh water to a rolling boil.
3. 3. Pour the water over your tea bags or tea leaves. 
4. 4. Steep the tea for the recommended amount of time.
5. 5. Add ice to cool it down and drink it chilled. If you are making this ahead of time, you can refrigerate the tea and then add ice when it’s ready to serve.

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Cold brewing offers fuller flavors than iced tea, as it won’t be watered down. It also extracts less caffeine and bitterness than hot brewing methods due to the low temperature, making the taste smoother. Here’s how you can make your own cold brew tea: 

1. 1. Place your tea bag or infuser with loose tea leaves into a pitcher or bottle.
2. 2. Fill the bottle or pitcher with fresh, room-temperature water.
3. 3. Cover and refrigerate for 4-12 hours. It’s fine if you steep it longer as there won’t be much bitterness compared to hot brewed tea. The more you steep it, the stronger the flavor. 
4. 4. Remove the tea bag or tea leaves from the container.
5. 5. Enjoy your tea cold and make sure to finish it within 2 days.

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Now that you know how to make good tea, you can explore different varieties of tea and experience their unique flavors:

• - Black Tea: Bold and full-bodied, black tea is an oxidized tea with robust flavors. There are many types of black tea, including Earl Grey, Taiwanese ruby tea, and more! Some have malty, smoky, or fruity undertones, perfect for a morning pick-me-up.

• - Green Tea: Being less oxidized than black tea, green tea has a lighter taste. Some may even find its flavor pleasantly grassy and refreshing. 

• - Oolong Tea: Bridging the gap between black and green teas, oolong tea is a type of semi-oxidized tea with complex flavors. Its taste ranges from floral and creamy to toasty and nutty.

• - High Mountain Tea: Grown at high altitudes, this tea is prized for its clean, delicate taste and floral aroma. It often has a silky texture and the flavors differ depending on the mountain it is sourced from.

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• - Pu’erh Tea: Known for its earthy, woody, and aged flavor with a lasting sweetness, Pu’erh tea is a fermented tea from the Yunnan province of China. Its taste can develop further when the leaves are stored properly, offering a flavorful experience for tea connoisseurs.

• - White Tea: White tea is made from the youngest growth on the bush and treated with minimal processing. This gives it a light flavor with subtle floral and fruity notes.

• - Floral Tea: Made from dried flowers like chamomile or rose, floral teas are fragrant and ideal for relaxation.

• - Herbal Tea: Crafted from herbs and spices, herbal teas, like peppermint or ginger, are caffeine-free and have strong aromas.

• - Fruit Tea: Bursting with dried fruit flavors, fruit teas are sweet, tangy, and refreshing, perfect for both hot and iced tea.

Getting the brewing time and temperature just right is crucial for the tea’s flavor. Steeping tea too long can make it bitter, while using water that’s too hot may burn delicate leaves, ruining the taste. 

We recommend always following the instructions on the packaging for the best flavors and aromas. If you need a reference, here is a table with the best brewing time and temperature for making different types of tea:

• - Black Tea: 100°C (212°F), 2–4 minutes
• - Green Tea: 80°C (176°F), 1–3 minutes
• - Oolong Tea: 80–90°C (176–194°F), 3–6 minutes
• - High Mountain Tea: 80–95°C (176–203°F), 1–3 minutes
• - Pu’erh Tea: 80–90°C (176–194°F), 2–3 minutes
• - White Tea: 80°C (176°F), 3–7 minutes
• - Floral Tea: 100°C (212°F), 3–5 minutes
• - Herbal Tea: 100°C (212°F), 3–5 minutes
• - Fruit Tea: 100°C (212°F), 3–5 minutes

In terms of cold brew tea, we recommend steeping delicate teas like green tea or white tea for 4 to 6 hours, while robust teas like black tea, oolong tea, or Pu’erh tea should be steeped for 8 to 12 hours for you to get the most out of their flavors.

For a more detailed guide for brewing or re-steeping tea from Wang De Chuan Tea, you can check out this page here: Wang De Chuan Tea Preparation Guide 

Crafting the perfect cup of tea takes more than just following instructions—it’s about fine-tuning the details. Here are some tips to elevate your tea-drinking experience:

Use the Right Measurements and Ratios:

While the specific amount of tea depends on the brand and type, the usual ratio is around 1 teaspoon of tea leaves per cup for hot tea or 2 teaspoons per cup for iced tea. If you’re brewing a larger pot, adjust accordingly—about 4 teaspoons for a 1-liter teapot is ideal.

Adjust Strength Without Over-steeping:

As mentioned, over-steeping tea often leads to bitterness. So what can you do when you want a stronger brew? Add more tea leaves (about 1 teaspoon extra) instead of extending the steeping time. This will help you get a bold, smooth flavor.

Mind the Sweeteners and Additions:

While sugar, milk, or honey can enhance some teas, they may mask the delicate flavors of others, such as green or white teas. Add these sparingly and do it right after steeping for the best results. You can explore other options like citrus or dried fruit pieces for a different experience. Still, for most teas, enjoying them straight lets their natural flavors shine.

Choose the Right Teaware:

Usually, you can use anything you have; the flavors will be just as nice as long as you have high-quality tea. However, if you want to up your tea game to the next level, you can experiment with different teaware and see how it influences the taste.

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For instance, ceramic teapots are great for retaining heat and they can work for all tea types. Also, Chinese clay teapots (also known as Yixing teapots) absorb flavors over time, which can help create a richer brew. Some people may prefer glass teapots since they are easy to clean and they can also let you watch the leaves unfurl for a visually stunning experience.

Since 1862, Wang De Chuan Tea is committed to bringing an authentic experience from the valleys of Taiwan straight into your daily brew. With over 160 years of heritage, our expert craftsmanship has been passed down through generations to ensure every sip reflects tradition and quality.

Explore our wide range, from black tea to oolong Tea, high mountain tea, pu’erh tea, green tea, and so much more — made for both hot and cold brews. Each product features single-origin tea leaves, providing a unique, flavorful experience contributed by their lush growing environment. Moreover, every batch from Wang De Chuan Tea is SGS-tested and fully traceable, giving you peace of mind with every purchase.

Wang De Chuan Tea also offers a secure online ordering system, which supports credit card and Apple Pay. Enjoy international shipping and track your order conveniently on our official website, as we deliver the authentic taste of Taiwanese tea straight to your doorstep. Browse our teas today and let their flavors elevate your day!