Measuring loose leaf tea for brewing can be a tricky process, especially when you’re new to the world of loose leaf tea. It’s not as simple as measuring dried tea bag – those measurements go by weight, not volume. The following are some pf the steps on how to measure loose leaf tea for brewing;
1. Choose the right tea pot.
Loose leaf teas need a large open space for maximum water flow. Teapots with narrow openings are not suitable, as loose leaf tea will clog the spout. This is not a problem if you brew tea straight, but if you want to brew using different teas together, this can be a problem. Just remember to increase the brewing time accordingly. For example: If you choose white tea, add green tea during the brewing process to get an authentic cup o’ green!
2. Measuring loose leaf tea using teaware
Here are the important factor to consider when using tea pots that hold loose leaf tea:
The volume of each pot is approximately twice the size of one cup. For example, if your pot holds 1 liter (1.026 gallons), the target brewing time will be around 3 cups.
The amount of water used during brewing should fit inside the tea cup just below the rim, which means you will be able to see some water going down but not too much; it’s also appropriate if you can feel a little bit of flow through the spout area.
3.Measuring loose leaf tea using a scale
It’s simple! Just pour the desired amount of water into the teapot, add a spoonful of tea and wait for it to steep for about 30 seconds. Then, pour the tea into a large measuring cup or an empty beaker and measure the weight in grams. That’s all!
4.Use your intuition
You can try a lot of different teas and it’s all about personal preference. If you’re new to loose leaf tea, don’t panic – there’s no rush. Just get to know how each tea tastes, adjust your brewing process accordingly and try it again in a few weeks to find your own way of brewing.
5.Add tea leaves
It is recommended that you add 2 grams of tea leaves to 20 ml of water (at 75C, steep for 30 seconds). This is just a ballpark figure though as brewing time will vary. If you want to brew with different teas, heat up the water until it starts to boil and then remove it from heat for about 3 minutes before pouring it into the teapot. This way, the water temperature will be lower, so you can avoid over-brewed tea. Then add one tea of your choice, measure the amount of water that’s going to be poured into the teapot and then pour it into the pot. On average, a liter (1.05 quarts) should be sufficient for 8-9 grams of tea leaves.
6.Split your leaves
If you want to get more out of your loose leaf tea, consider “double brewing” it. First brew a cup of hot water using one tea (instead of two), let it cool slightly for about 2-3 minutes then pour the hot water into a teapot and add another teas (the amount doesn’t really matter).