Tea Brewing Guide
Great tea is mostly a matter of three things: water temperature, leaf amount, and time. Here's how we brew each family at Sensei Tea House — every tea in our loose-leaf collection follows this chart.
Water temperature
Greens low, blacks boiling
Leaf amount
About 1 tsp per 8 oz cup
Steep time
Start short; re-steep longer
Green teas
Dragon Well, Sencha, Bi Luo Chun, Gunpowder, Classic Green
- Water
- 160–175°F (70–80°C)
- Leaf
- 1 tsp per 8 oz cup
- Steep
- 2–3 minutes
Boiling water scorches green tea and makes it bitter. Let the kettle rest a few minutes after boiling, or pour onto the leaves along the cup's side.
Re-steep up to 3 times, adding 30 seconds each round.
White teas
Silver Needle, White Peony
- Water
- 175–185°F (80–85°C)
- Leaf
- 1½ tsp per 8 oz cup
- Steep
- 3–4 minutes
White tea is the least processed, so it rewards patience — a long, gentle steep brings out honey and melon notes.
Re-steep 2–3 times; later infusions turn sweeter.
Oolong teas
Tie Guan Yin, Da Hong Pao, Jin Xuan, Oriental Beauty
- Water
- 185–205°F (85–96°C)
- Leaf
- 1 tsp per 8 oz cup
- Steep
- 3–4 minutes
Rolled oolong leaves unfurl slowly. Darker roasted oolongs like Da Hong Pao can take hotter water and longer steeps.
Excellent for re-steeping — 4 or more rounds.
Pu-erh teas
Raw Sheng, Ripe Shou, Golden Bud, Lao Cha Tou
- Water
- Boiling, 212°F (100°C)
- Leaf
- 1 tsp per 8 oz cup
- Steep
- 3–5 minutes
Rinse once: cover the leaves with hot water for 5 seconds and pour it off. This wakes the leaves and cleanses aged tea.
Re-steep many times — pu-erh just keeps giving.
Black teas
Assam, Darjeeling, Keemun, Lapsang Souchong
- Water
- 200–212°F (93–100°C)
- Leaf
- 1 tsp per 8 oz cup
- Steep
- 3–5 minutes
Delicate Darjeeling prefers the cooler end; bold Assam takes full boiling water. Steeping too long brings out bitterness, not strength.
Re-steep once or twice.
Herbal blends & tisanes
Hibiscus Sunset, chamomile, mint, our wellness blends
- Water
- Boiling, 212°F (100°C)
- Leaf
- 1–2 tsp per 8 oz cup
- Steep
- 5–7 minutes
Herbs have no caffeine and nothing to burn — give them a long, covered steep so the oils stay in the cup.
Usually best as a single generous infusion.
Ready to try? Shop the teas.