Preparing tea correctly – temperature, dosage & steeping time
Preparing Tea
Proper tea preparation is about more than just following precise instructions. In addition to tea quality, water, dosage, and steeping time, personal preferences, your mood for the day, and the mindful moment of enjoyment also play an important role.
Find your own, very personal way. Preparation is not a tedious chore, but already part of the tea experience.
A sensory pleasure
In addition to objective criteria such as the quality of the tea and water, the amount of tea, and the steeping time, preparation also depends on subjective factors such as your own mood. The same type of tea can taste different every day and vary in subtle nuances.
Is it the tea itself? The water? Your own state of mind? The fascination of tea! Our fundamental recommendation for preparation is: find your own, very personal way!
Ideally, you should not view preparing your tea as a tedious chore. The journey is the destination. For the enjoyment of your tea, the preparation is already a sensory pleasure in itself.
Tea can have different effects depending on the water, dosage, steeping time, and personal perception. Small changes can already noticeably influence the aroma.
Dosage, preparation, and water quality
You will find a recommendation for dosage and preparation for every one of our teas. The amounts of tea are always based on soft water.
Hard water impairs the aroma of the tea, but you can increase the amount of tea to improve the taste. For hard, calcareous water, we recommend using a water filter.
Soft, filtered water usually brings out subtle aromas more clearly. Good water is especially worthwhile for green tea, white tea, and high-quality black teas.
Our preparation tips
-
Preheat the teapot:
Rinse the pot with hot water. -
Measure the tea:
One teaspoon of tea leaves per cup and one for the pot: "One for each and one for the pot." -
Temper the water correctly:
Bring filtered water to the correct temperature depending on the type of tea. Black tea, rooibos, fruit tea, and herbal tea: 100°C. Green tea: 60–90°C. -
Steep:
Let the tea steep for 2–10 minutes depending on the type of tea. -
Stir and strain:
Stir the tea and then strain it.
Overview of temperature and steeping time
| Type of tea | Water temperature | Steeping time |
|---|---|---|
| Black tea | 100°C | varies by variety |
| Green tea | 60–90°C | varies by variety |
| Rooibos | 100°C | varies by variety |
| Fruit tea | 100°C | varies by variety |
| Herbal tea | 100°C | varies by variety |
The exact steeping time depends heavily on the type of tea, leaf grade, desired intensity, and personal taste. Therefore, please also observe the specific recommendation for each individual tea.
Refine to taste
You can add cream, milk, or sugar to taste – rock sugar is best. Particularly strong black teas, Assam teas, East Frisian blends, or English and Irish teas are well-suited for this classic way of enjoying them.
Conversely, we recommend trying fine green teas, Darjeelings, Oolongs, and many high-quality specialties pure at first, so that the fragrance, color, and subtle nuances can be enjoyed in their purest form.
Start with the recommended dosage and steeping time. If the tea seems too mild to you, slightly increase the amount of tea next time. If it is too strong or too astringent, shorten the steeping time or, for green tea, lower the water temperature.
Further tea knowledge
Discover more information about origin, quality, color, and the various types of tea.
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Useful information about tea, its origin, preparation, and special moments of enjoyment.
Tea Knowledge & Viennese Culinary Culture
Discover the diverse world of tea: from traditional growing regions and select tea varieties to proper preparation and current recommendations from our Viennese tea shop. In our blog, we share expertise, stories, and inspiration for even more enjoyment in every cup.
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