TAKE MEASURE OF YOUR TEA

There are a number of considerations when pursuing the perfect cup of tea. Some are out of our control such as water quality or, quelle horreur, second rate motel tea bags!

As tea drinkers, one of the things we can control when making loose leaf tea, is the amount of tea we use. Each tea has a range in which it produces the optimum taste. For a lighter taste, you want to use use the minimum amount of tea, but still enough for optimal flavour. For a stronger taste it's better to use slight more tea but not so much as to produce a bitter flavour. I like this range method as it takes into account people's personal preferences.

The following guide highlights a good starting point for how much tea leaf to use with various teas. When trying new teas, start with a lighter flavour and work your way to a stronger flavor over subsequent brewings.

Measurement Guidelines for 250ml (standard NZ cup size)

BLACK TEA

Light Flavour: 1 teaspoons, or about 3 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

Strong Flavour: 1.5 Teaspoons, or 5 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

GREEN TEA

Light Flavour: 1 level teaspoon, or about 2 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

Strong Flavour: 1 heaped teaspoon, or 4 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

WHITE TEA

Light Flavour: 1 teaspoon, or about 2 grams of per 250ml of water.

Strong Flavour: 2 teaspoons, or 4 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

HERBAL TEA

Light Flavour: 2 teaspoons, or about 3.5 grams of tea per 25ml of water.

Strong Flavour: 2.5-3 teaspoons, or 5-6 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

FRUIT TEA

Light Flavour: 1.5 teaspoons, or about 3.5 grams of tea per 250ml of water.

Strong Flavour: 2 - 2.5 teaspoons, or 5-6 grams of tea per 250ml of water.