If you are new to loose leaf tea, making your first cup can seem a little intimidating. How much tea should you use? How hot should the water be? How long should you steep it? The good news is that brewing loose leaf tea is simple. With a few basic steps, you can enjoy a more enjoyable and aromatic cup while making the process part of your daily routine.
1. Choose the Right Infuser
A basket-style infuser is one of the easiest ways to brew loose leaf tea. It gives the leaves room to expand while keeping them contained, making clean-up quick and simple. If you don’t have an infuser, a teapot with a built-in filter also works well.
2. Measure Your Tea
A good starting point is 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per cup (around 250 mL), adjust slightly depending on your personal taste. Using too much tea can make the flavour stronger than intended, while too little may produce a weaker brew.
3. Heat the Water
Water temperature plays important role in brewing loose leaf herbal tea. For Stillway Soft Dusk No.1, we recommend using hot water between 90°C and 95°C. This temperature allows the botanicals to infuse fully, creating a balanced and aromatic cup. If you don’t have a temperature-controlled kettle, bring the water to the boil and let it cool for about a minute before pouring.
4. Allow It to Steep
For the best flavour, allow your tea to steep for 5–7 minutes. This gives the chamomile, lemon balm, linden, passionflower and lavender time to fully infuse, creating a smooth and aromatic botanical tea. Once the tea has reached your preferred strength, remove the infuer andenjoy.
5. Slow Down and Enjoy
One of the pleasures of loose leaf tea is the ritual itself. Measuring the tea, pouring the water and watching the botanicals gently infuse can become a small moment of calm during a busy day. Rather than rushing, take a few minutes to enjoy both preparation and the finished cup.
Brewing loose leaf tea doesn’t have to be complicated. With a quality infuser, the right amount of tea and a little patience, anyone can prepare a delicious botanical infusion at home. If you’re looking for a calming evening botanical infusion, Stillway Soft Dusk No.1 brings together chamomile, lemon balm, linden flower & leaf, passionflower and lavender in a carefully crafted loose leaf blend designed to be enjoyed one cup at a time.