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How Much Loose Leaf Tea for a Cup — The Answer

How Much Loose Leaf Tea for a Cup — The Answer

People who dislike tea are often blown away when it’s properly measured and brewed.

But who can blame them? If you don’t put the right amount in your cup, then tea will taste bad no matter how expensive it was.

The fact is that the secret to making tea, like baking, is all about following the recipe.

The problem, of course, is that very few places explain the best ways to drink loose leaf tea.

We’re here to help!

If you’ve ever wondered how to make green tea taste better or just what you’re doing wrong to make your favorite white tea taste like a cup of bitter acid, read on.
 

How much loose leaf tea do you use to make a cup of tea?

The best amount of loose leaf tea to use is two to three grams of tea leaves per six ounces of water. It’s best to weigh your tea, but if you don’t have a scale, you can use one teaspoon per six ounces or about one and a quarter teaspoons for an eight ounce cup.
 

Why you should be measuring your tea

Brewing tea is a little like magic. You pour hot water over dried leaves and in a few minutes, you’re left with a smooth, fragrant drink that lifts your mood and energizes you all at once.

Like any tea drinker knows, though, it’s easy to mess up a cup of tea.

The most common culprits are when someone doesn’t know how long to steep black tea (or any other kind) or the correct water temperature to use.

A close runner-up has got to be failing to properly measure the tea leaves before you add them to your cup.

The worst part is that for people used to teabags, the problem of adding too much loose leaf tea is an invisible one.

Fortunately, the solution is very simple: just measure out your tea leaves before you pour the water over them.
 

The best amount of tea leaves to put in each cup

Most tea producers recommend using between two and three grams of tea leaves per six ounces of boiling water.

That’s roughly the same amount as a single teaspoon of loose leaf tea.

If you want to make a full-sized (eight ounce) cup of tea leaves, you can add another quarter teaspoon or roughly half a gram if you’re weighing your tea.

If you want to make a pot of tea instead of a single cup, simply multiply the number of cups you want to pour by two to three grams and add that much loose leaf tea to the pot.

Most people recommend adding one extra “cup” worth to a teapot, as well.
 

The right amount of loose leaf tea for each type of tea

Fortunately, the two to three gram amount is good for most popular types of tea.

Whether you’re drinking green, black, white, pu erh or herbal tea, roughly two to three grams or one teaspoon of tea will work.

That said, black teas are more robust tasting than most other teas, so if you don’t like a strong brew, it’s a good idea to use a little less tea by weight.

On the other hand, herbal teas are not technically tea and may not get bitter no matter how much you add to your hot water.

For some kinds of herbal beverages, you may need to add as much as several tablespoons per cup.
 

More tips for measuring loose leaf tea

  • Start by looking at the package. Tea sellers will usually include a recommended amount, water temperature and brew time for each blend. Following their advice is the best way to get that perfect cup!
  • Use a scale, not a teaspoon. A teaspoon will do in a pinch, but if you have large tea leaves or chunks of fruit in your tea it will be hard to get the right amount. Weighing your tea is more reliable.
  • Adjust to your taste. If you like strong tea, it’s fine to add more tea leaves. Likewise, if you prefer a smoother brew, try adding more water. Experiment until you find what works best for you.
  • Keep trying! If your first few tries brewing loose leaf tea are a disaster, don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. Just keep working at it and you’ll quickly be enjoying the best cup ever.