General Guidelines for Proper Tea-Brewing

Black Tea:
Boiling water, 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of leaves per 8 ounces of water. Steep 3-5 minutes. Not typically good for a second infusion.

Green Tea:
Before boiling (160 - 180°F), 1 teaspoon of leaves per 8 ounces of water. Steep 2-3 minutes. Typically good for 2, 3, maybe even 4 infusions.

White Tea:
Before boiling (150 - 170°F), 2 teaspoons of leaves per 8 ounces of water. Steep 2-4 minutes. Typically good for 2, 3, maybe even 4 infusions.

Oolong Tea:
Close to boiling (200°F), 1 teaspoon of leaves per 8 ounces of water. Steep 3-4 minutes. Typically good for 3, 4, maybe up to 8 infusions.

Herbals:
Boiling water, 2 teaspoons of leaves per 8 ounces of water. Steep 6 or more minutes. Maybe good for a 2nd infusion.

Chai:
2 parts boiling water & 1 part hot milk, 2+ teaspoons of leaves per 8 ounces of combined liquid. Brew 6 or more minutes. Sweeten to taste. Never good for a 2nd infusion.

Yerba Máte:
Many different methods are enjoyable. Brew it like a regular tea, put it in a press, or finely grind it and run it through an espresso machine. But if you want to try a traditional method, you'll need a small cup (about 6 ounces) if you don't have a traditional hollowed-out gourd. Put your bombilla in the cup or gourd. Fill the cup half full of máte. Add just enough hot water so that you and those you are sharing with will each get one good pull from the bombilla. Do not move the bombilla around as that will cause small bits of the leaf to come up through the bombilla. When enjoying with a friend, always allow them to drink first and hand them the cup with the bombilla pointing toward them.

Gong Fu & Gaiwan:
Near-boiling water, 2 - 3 teaspoons of leaves in a Gong Fu Pot or Gaiwan Cup (typically about 6 ounces of water). Steep 10 - 90 seconds. Pour. You will learn what is the best amount of brewing time for each of your teas in this style. It's always good to start with short steeping and increase on the next infusion if you think it necessary. That's the beauty of only brewing 6 ounces of tea at a time. If you mess up it's not like you've got a whole huge pot of bitter tea to drink!