Holly’s Tips for Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea The tips provided below are guidelines only. Feel free to experiment so you can discover your own personal preferences. • Purchase fresh, high quality tea • Store tea in a cool location, in an airtight container, and away from sunlight and strong odors • Consume tea within several months to no more than one year from the date of purchase (however, some specialty teas improve with age, like pu-erh) • Measure the appropriate amount of tea to water (generally from 1t. to 2T of tea to 6 oz. of water. More tea for a larger leaf, less tea for a smaller leaf; see approximate measures below) White tea – about 1-2 heaping tablespoons Green or Jasmine tea – 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons depending on leaf size Oolong tea – 1-2 tablespoons depending on leaf size Black tea – 1 teaspoon Herbal tea with leaves/flowers –1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon depending on leaf/flower size • Brew teas with fresh, pure, cold water that is odor free and untreated, if possible • Use the correct water temperature for the type of tea you are brewing: White and Yellow tea – 160-170° F (steam rising – not boiling) Green and Jasmine tea – 170-180°F (large bubbles – not boiling) Oolong tea – 180-200°F (tiny bubbles along surface – not boiling) Black tea – 190-200°F (just under full boil) Herbal tea with leaves/flowers – 195-205° (just under full boil) • Steep the tea for the appropriate length of time for the type of tea you are brewing (may need to adjust depending on your personal taste): White tea – 90 seconds to 2 minutes (multiple steeps OK) Green tea – 2 to 3 minutes (multiple steeps OK) Oolong tea – 3 to 5 minutes; 30 seconds to 1 minute for ball-rolled (multiple steeps OK) Black tea – fine leaf 2 to 3 minutes; large leaf 5 minutes Herbal tea with leaves/flowers – 3 to 5 minutes; 15 to 20 minutes for higher medicinal effect • Cover the tea while steeping for a more flavorful cup .