“The key to making a perfect pot of tea lies in the details.” Whether you’re looking for an afternoon lift-up, a warm moment with someone you care about, or an afternoon tea with friends and family, brewing the perfect pot of tea will help you connect better.

In order to make a perfect cup of tea, the teapot set is nearly just as important as the quality of the tea leaves. Teapots come in all shapes and sizes, and just like wine glasses, different teas should be brewed in certain teapots.

Some people prefer ceramic teapots while others prefer glass. Ceramic teapots tend to keep water warm; though some people think that the visual aspect of watching tea steep is very therapeutic. Let’s share the beauty of tea with others through the rituals of special tea sets and teapots!

How to Brew Tea in a Teapot? Follow 5 Steps - ABoxTik 一盒精品 2

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Teapot Brewing Steps

Brewing a cup of tea may seem simple, but there are many steps that require careful attention in the process. If you think brewing tea simply involves pouring hot water into a teapot, then you definitely need to read this article carefully.

In Japan, there is a traditional tea ceremony process for brewing tea, with each step being very rigorous; in Europe, there is a great emphasis on the artistic elegance of teapots and tea utensils; Chinese tea brewing focuses on the nurturing process of the teapot and the correct brewing time for tea leaves.

Next, we will introduce you to the 5 steps and techniques required for brewing tea, and we believe that after learning them, you will gain more correct methods of brewing tea:

1. Heat Water and Warm the Teapot – Brewing Tea Steps

Water is one of the most direct factors affecting the brewing of tea leaves. In addition to the quality of water used, temperature is also a key factor, as different types of tea require different water temperatures for brewing.

In terms of water quality, since the water sources vary in different countries, the water quality in many European countries is mostly hard water, which contains more minerals.

For brewing tea leaves, it is recommended to use water sources with low mineral content, free of chemicals, natural spring water, or glacier water. This type of natural water can gently soak the tea leaves, allowing them to unfold soothingly and release more natural aroma. (Read More: Where Does the Freshness and Bitterness of Tea Come From? Sources of Tea Flavor)

Check the outer packaging of your tea leaves to understand the recommended brewing temperature for the tea leaves. Heat the water to the precise temperature and preheat the teapot. This simple step can elevate your tea experience. Warming the teapot is a very small detail. Although few people pay attention to it, the teapot should be preheated before each brewing of tea leaves.

Preheating the teapot is a very simple action. Pour about half of the teapot with hot boiling water, shake it a few times, and then pour out the water. When hot water for brewing tea enters the teapot after preheating, the water temperature will not suddenly decrease too much, which can enhance the flavor of the tea.

Additionally, the hot water for brewing tea should be boiled rather than heated in a microwave, as water heated in a microwave is not uniform and may affect the brewing of tea leaves. Also, it’s essential not to reboil water for brewing tea, as this can lead to imbalance in the elements in the water, thereby affecting the taste of the tea.

In the dance of steam and aroma, Teapot Brewing becomes a symphony of senses, where leaves and water intertwine, painting poetry in the liquid, each pour a journey of discovery, a ritual of communion with nature’s essence.

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2. Adding Tea Leaves to the Teapot – Brewing Tea Steps

Scoop the tea leaves directly into the teapot, then wait for the tea to brew. Place a tea strainer on top of the cup, and pour the tea through the strainer into the cup, ensuring that no tea leaves enter the drinking cup. There are different options for tea strainers:

Using an External Strainer

Using an external strainer is the most common method for brewing tea leaves. It allows the tea leaves to be fully immersed in the teapot, resulting in a more complete and balanced tea infusion. However, when using an external strainer to filter the tea leaves, care must be taken to prevent the tea leaves from accidentally falling into the cup.

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Internal Tea Strainer

Many complete teapots come with a dedicated infusion basket that fits perfectly inside the teapot. Since it is placed directly inside the teapot, the advantage is that no additional strainer is needed. However, because the tea leaves are usually placed in the infusion container inside the pot, there is limited space for the tea leaves to expand.

Additionally, some people may forget about the tea brewing after chatting for a while. When using an internal tea strainer, please ensure to adhere to the recommended brewing time for the selected tea to avoid over-brewing.

Tea Bag

Tea bags are quite convenient for brewing tea leaves. You can use your favorite tea bags in any teapot, just put them in and easily enjoy your tea. However, when purchasing tea bag tea leaves, be sure to check the material of the tea bag. Some materials may produce plastic residues when steeped in hot water for too long, so extra caution is necessary.

3. Precisely Time the Brewing of Tea Leaves – Brewing Tea Steps

Next, pour hot water into the teapot and wait for the time to pass. Of course, for some very high-quality tea leaves, there may be strict time calculations. So, if necessary, you can use a timer. For those who prefer a more retro feel, you can choose a sand timer to calculate the passage of time.

In traditional Chinese tea brewing, there is a distinction between the first brew and subsequent brews of tea. This is mainly because tea leaves are not cleaned after harvesting.

Some people consider the first brew of tea as a way to clean any dust or impurities on the tea leaves and discard the first brew, only consuming the subsequent brews. Remember! Do not leave the tea leaves in the water after brewing, as this will make the tea very bitter.

How to Brew Tea in a Teapot? Follow 5 Steps - ABoxTik 一盒精品 5

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4. Enjoy this Moment – Brewing Tea Steps

Now it’s time to start enjoying your tea. Take some time to appreciate the flavor and aroma of the tea, from the aroma wafting from the cup to the taste lingering in your mouth after each sip. The aftertaste that follows drinking tea is a unique moment only experienced during tea brewing.

It’s recommended to first taste the tea in its original flavor before adding milk, sugar, honey, or other flavorings. This allows you to fully appreciate the taste intended by the tea maker or the blend of tea leaves. Remember, each cup of tea is unique and sometimes reflects the ambiance of the moment.

5. Clean the Teapot – Brewing Tea Steps

Now, onto the final step, which is often overlooked by many: cleaning the teapot. After each use, the teapot needs to be cleaned to prevent the flavor of the previous brew from affecting the next one. Since tea leaves contain no oils, simply rinsing with hot water is sufficient. After brewing tea, first remove the tea strainer and then pour out any remaining tea. This step makes cleaning the teapot much easier.

As the Teapot Brewing, it becomes a dance of fragrant steam, where each pour is a ritual, and every swirl a symphony, blending leaves and water into a harmonious elixir, awakening the senses with each delicate sip.

Follow ABoxTik

After selecting a teapot, head straight to ABoxTik for the right tea!

Utilise your teapot correctly to deliciously and aromatically indulge in your favourite tea!

ABoxTik welcomes you to experience a variety of beautiful local teas representative of Taiwan to be enjoyed with friends and family!