Ultimate Guide to Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea ☕

January 21, 2026

Let’s be honest, most of us make tea on autopilot.

Water boiled. Tea added. Forgotten for five minutes.
And then we wonder why it tastes bitter or dull.

The truth?
Great tea isn’t complicated, it just needs a little care.

At Duncan’s Tea, we believe every cup should feel comforting, flavourful, and deeply satisfying. Here’s a simple, no-nonsense guide to help you brew tea the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.

🌿 Step 1: Start with good tea

No brewing trick can fix poor-quality leaves.

Choose:

Fresh, aromatic tea
Loose-leaf whenever possible
Trusted garden-sourced teas

Good tea already knows how to taste great, you just need to unlock it.

💧 Step 2: Use fresh water

Tea is mostly water, so this matters more than you think.

✔ Use fresh filtered water
✖ Avoid re-boiled or stale water

Fresh water = brighter flavour and better aroma.

Step 3: Measure it right

The golden rule:

👉 1 teaspoon tea for 1 cup (200 ml) water

Want stronger tea?
Add a little more leaf, not more time.

🔥 Step 4: Heat water correctly

Different teas like different temperatures.

Tea Type	Water Temp
Green Tea	70–80°C
Darjeeling First Flush	80–85°C
Darjeeling Second Flush	90–95°C
Black Tea	95–100°C
Herbal Tea	100°C

💡 Tip: Boiling water can destroy delicate teas like green and first flush Darjeeling.

⏱ Step 5: Don’t over-steep

This is where most tea goes wrong.

Tea Type	Time
Green Tea	2–3 min
Darjeeling Tea	3–4 min
Black Tea	4–5 min
Herbal Tea	5–7 min

Set a timer. Your tea deserves it.

🍵 Step 6: Strain, sip, enjoy

Once brewed:

Remove leaves immediately
Inhale the aroma
Take that first warm sip

That’s the magic moment.

Final Sip ☕

Brewing the perfect cup of tea isn’t about rules:
it’s about slowing down.

When you get the temperature right, respect the leaves, and give tea a little time, it rewards you with flavour, aroma, and calm.

So next time you brew, ask yourself:

👉 Am I just making tea… or enjoying it?