Brew The Perfect Cup

Zealong Tea Estate's Recommendations


At Taria, we believe that the journey to a perfect cup of tea can be quite subjective as taste preferences vary.  Thus,  we've decided to entrust this advice to the expertise of the dedicated tea master at Zealong Tea Estate. We know that there are many opinions on how to brew the perfect cup, so we invite you to be creative, but want to provide you with their expert advice.

Water Type

Be sure to use good spring or filter water, but not mineral water. It has a taste of its own which would spoil the tea flavour. A lower pH is also usually recommended.

Water Temperature

  • Oolong Tea: Aim for a temperature between 90-95°C (194-203°F). This range preserves delicate flavors while ensuring the tea leaves gracefully unfurl.
  • Green and Black Teas: These varieties appreciate a slightly lower temperature, around 80-85°C (176-185°F). 

Infusion Times

  • First to Third Infusion: Steep the tea leaves for approximately 1 minute.
  • Fourth Cup Onwards: Add an additional minute to each subsequent infusion.

However, tea appreciation is personal, and these are general guidelines. Keep in mind that tea ceremonies may vary in their preparation techniques.

Brewing Freshness

For daily tea consumption, we recommend brewing fresh tea leaves each day, with the option for up to 4 re-infusions. With the exception of iced tea recipes that may require brewing fresh tea leaves in the fridge overnight.

Brewing Vessels

  • Regular Tea Cup (6-8 oz.): Use 1 tea bag or 3 grams of tea.
  • 450ml Zealong Tea Jug: Utilize 1 tea bag or 3 grams of tea.

Milk and Sugar

    We recommend guests try their teas without milk and sugar first, but if their preference is for milk and sugar then they should add as desired. For those who enjoy tea with milk, we also recommend Zealong’s Own Breakfast tea, which is designed to take milk.

    Brewing tea extracts flavors and nutrients inherent in the tea leaves through various steeping methods creating an infusion. When brewing your tea, you are performing a chemical extraction, which implies extracting small molecules out of a solid substance (your loose tea or tea bags). 

    The perfect tea is the result of a balanced extraction of tannins, antioxidants, caffeine, and flavor. However, the result depends on a number of factors, such as the water temperatures, the tea quality, and the steeping time.

    More coming ...

    We will talk about brewing a hot cup or tea and cold brew. We will also talk about getting a proper kettle that can handle different temperatures.