The Brewing of Tea

When Thomas Merton was asked by someone to reveal to him the one thing that he should do to improve his prayer life, he answered simply, “Take the time". And so it is with tea.

Time is the essential component of tea. Brewing loose leaf tea takes attention, and when done thoughtfully and carefully it can be a productive, fruitful time. Tea is prayer; tea is meditation; but ultimately, tea is play.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that tea is yours, make it your own.

The Set Up

Gather all of your equipment for brewing. Teapots, large and small, gaiwans, french presses, fair cups, kettles, etc., and arrange things where you fell most comfortable. Keep everything nearby. You can’t waste time.

The Preparation

Begin to heat the water, preferably spring or filtered. The general rule for water temperature is 170F-185F for Green and White Teas, 185F-210F for Oolong teas, and 195F-210F for Black teas. If you do not have a temperature controlled kettle or thermometer handy, know that water drops about 10F every minute it stands off heat.

Remember to preheat everything. Add water to warm the pot and cups, then measure out the tea. A good amount to start is 3 grams per serving.

The Brewing

Discard the water used to preheat and add the tea. Add water and let brew. The general rule for brewing times is 2 - 3 minutes for Green and White teas, 1 - 3 minutes for Oolong teas, and 3 - 5 minutes for Black teas. What we recommend though is that you taste the tea every 30 seconds - 1 minute. You be the judge of what tastes right.

Re-brew!

All of our teas can be re-brewed. You can use slightly hotter water with each brew, and let the leaves sit a little longer each time.


Most importantly, make this experience your own. Experiment with different water temperatures, tea amounts, brewing times, etc. Appreciate the journey the tea leaf had to go through to reach you. And enjoy the results.