How to Make Tea Like a Tea Sommelier
on Jan 21, 2026
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Making a perfect pot of tea is all in the details. Learn the proper way to make tea from a tea expert with step-by-step instructions.
Proper Cup of Tea
All you need to do to make a cup of tea is hot water and tea. But if you want to make a proper cup of tea, there are a couple of extra steps you should take. It’ll elevate your tea experience and make your tea taste better.
Note from Jee
As a certified Tea Sommelier, I’ve learned that when it comes to making a proper cup of tea, it’s all in the details.
The first is to use an electric kettle with a temperature setting. The second is using a timer so that you don’t oversteep. Oversteeping and using water that’s too hot can lead to bitter tea.
The third is in warming up your teapot so that the tea steeps without any drastic fluctuations in the water. Read on to my step-by-step with notes and tips!
What You’ll Need
- Loose tea: When it’s just tea and water, I always choose loose tea over tea sachets or tea bags. Loose tea is higher in quality.
- Filtered water: Better water makes better tea. You’ll get a cleaner and more consistent tasting cup of tea when you use better quality water.
- Teapot with infuser: Use a teapot with a large infuser. It makes it easier for the loose tea leaves to unfurl and steep.
- Electric kettle with temperature setting: A must for all tea drinkers. Not all tea should be brewed in boiling hot water and with an electric kettle, you can set the water temperature.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Boil water.
Different types of tea require different water temperature to brew. Check the tea packaging to see the recommended water temperature.
I use an electric kettle with temperature setting to boil water every time I make tea. The electric kettle lets me set the water to varying water temperatures.
Step 2: Warm up the teapot.
This step is a detail that takes your tea to the next level and almost no one does it. But they should.
Take some of the boiled water and fill half the teapot and give it a few swirls then throw out the water. We’re warming the teapot so that when the hot water for tea goes in, the water temperature won’t drop too much.
Step 3: Put tea into the teapot.
I add the tea into the pot first to make sure the tea leaves get in contact with the water.
Step 4: Add hot water.
The water should be boiled to the correct temperature for the tea.
Step 5: Cover teapot and steep tea.
Set the timer on your phone to steep it to the correct amount of time. The steep time is different for each kind of tea so check the tea package to see what is recommended. Usually it’s no more than 5 minutes. Oversteeping tea will make your tea bitter.
Step 6: Strain tea leaves and pour hot tea into a cup.
Add milk and sugar to black tea if you like.
Once the pot is empty, feel free to pour more hot water (using the same tea leaves that are already in the teapot) and set the timer again. For the second steep, add 1-2 more minutes since the tea leaves will have lost some flavor from the first steep.
Tea Sommelier’s Tip
It’s not a good idea to keep tea leaves sitting in the water after the steep since it’ll make the tea really bitter. Use a teapot with a tea infuser where you can remove the infuser to separate the tea from the water after the first pour. That way, your second pour will taste as good as the first.
How Much Tea for Each Cup?
General rule of thumb is to use 1 ½ teaspoons of tea for every 8 ounce cup of water.
Questions You May Have
I would advise against using the microwave to make tea. When you use an electric kettle or heat water on the stovetop, you get water that’s uniformly hot. In the microwave, you would get hot and cold spots which isn’t ideal for steeping tea. Also, it’s incredibly difficult to figure out the water temperature when you use the microwave.
Tannins are compounds in tea. When tea leaves steep for too long or in water that’s too hot, it releases a lot of tannins, making your tea bitter. That’s why you shouldn’t steep your tea for too long or in water that’s too hot.
Tea in tea bags are the leftover broken bits, or “tea dust,” collected after tea has been processed. That doesn’t sound too appealing does it? Good quality tea is a rolled whole tea leaf. As the tea steeps, it will unfurl in the water and you should be able to see the entire leaf.
Related
- Tea Sommelier’s Milk Tea Recipe
- Cold Brew Tea Recipe
- Want to Get Into Oolong Tea? Start Here.
- Top 10 Tea Sommelier Tips
If you tried making tea using this step-by-step guide, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.
How to Make Tea Like a Tea Sommelier
Ingredients
- 2 cups water, + more to warm teapot
- 1 tablespoon loose black tea
Instructions
- Boil water.Different types of tea require different water temperature to brew. Check the tea packaging to see the recommended water temperature.If using an electric kettle with temperature setting, set it to 208°F for black tea. Heat a little more water than needed so that it can be used to warm up the teapot. Use filtered water for brewing. Water is the only other ingredient in tea, so better water equals better tea.
- Warm up the teapot.Take some of the boiled water and fill half the teapot and give it a few swirls then throw out the water. We're warming the teapot so that when the hot water for tea goes in, the water temperature won't drop too much.
- Put tea into teapot and add hot water.I add the tea into the pot first to make sure all the tea leaves get in contact with the water.
- Cover teapot and steep tea for 5 minutes (for black tea).Set the timer on your phone to steep it to the correct amount of time. The steep time is different for each kind of tea so check the tea package to see what is recommended. Oversteeping tea will make your tea bitter.
- Strain tea leaves and pour hot tea into a cup.Add milk and sugar to black tea if you like.Once the pot is empty, feel free to pour more hot water (using the same tea leaves that are already in the teapot) and set the timer again. For the second steep, add 1-2 more minutes since the tea leaves will have lost some flavor from the first steep.
Notes
- General rule of thumb is to use 1 ½ teaspoons of tea for every 8 ounce cup of water.
- If you like a stronger brew, instead of steeping tea for longer, add more tea leaves.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
In a post somewhere you mentioned steeping the tea first for less than a minute. I got my brother a rishi barrel aged Chiangmai black tea that suggested steeping it first for 45 seconds. Do you have any thoughts on that? Should I do that for other black loose teas?
The first steep isn’t really a steep but a rinse and that can be for about 15 seconds, just to wake up the leaves. After the rinse is the first steep which should be the 45 seconds for that tea. You do short steeps when you plan on doing multiple steeps. So after the first 45 second steep and you drink that tea, do another steep but add 30 seconds more to the previous steep. Drink that, and then you can do another steep adding another 30 seconds.
You can totally do that for all other loose teas, not just black tea.
Hi! Can I get the reference of the white teapot set you’re using? It’s gorgeous.
Hi Raphaelle, it’s from Mud Australia: https://us.mudaustralia.com/product-category/tea-and-coffee/
What should be the temperature?
Hi Ashok, the temperature depends on the tea. Most tea will come with brewing directions including water temperature on the packaging.
Comment *it is really helpful,i’ll try it for my family members
Super
I often drink tea, but I think it’s just a habit. I have not found the benefits.
but if I don’t drink tea I feel something is missing
When I put 16 oz of water into the teapot I don’t get enough tea for 2 cups of tea back. How much water should go into the pot to brew two 8 oz cups?
Hi Susan, try adding 2-4 oz of more water to fill the two cups.
Awesome….this perfect cup of tea for beautiful morning and i will definitely make this tea for my husband….Thanks for sharing…..!
Hi Winnie, I love pretty sugar and I agree with you, they're meant to be enjoyed/used!
So enjoyed the videos. I do warm my pots and cups, but I also have to use my tea cozies, as I don't care for cold tea (unless of course, it is iced…). I have to look for the book she mentioned. I do have her molds for sugar/butter. I love them, but don't use them often as people stare at them as they are "pretty" and don't want to use them. Too funny if you ask me.