It seems easy enough: Add water. Steep. Sip. As you learn how to make tea, the small details can make all the difference. Because there are so few ingredients, the way you choose them and how they are treated can make a difference in whether your cup tastes good enough to be enjoyed by a queen or one that is difficult to finish.

We’ll start with the basics of tea and then go into detail about how to make it every way. You are only a few steps away from a fabulous tea party.

What is Tea?

There are five types of tea leaves:

• Black tea
• Green tea (including matcha)
• White tea
• Herbal tea
• Oolong tea

Nearly all of the tea we consume (90%) is a blend. Many of these blends include flowers, berries, and spices to enhance their final taste. You can make all of the teas listed above using the exact brewing times, but with different flavors. Here’s how long you should brew tea, unless otherwise stated on the tea packet.

• Green Tea: Brew for 1 to 2 minutes
• Black Tea: Brew for 2 to 3 minutes
• Oolong, white, and herbal teas: Brew for 3 to 5 minutes

When you’re looking at all the different ways to make tea, remember that only fresh, clean water is the best (spring or filtered) and that the steep time and temperature are crucial to ensure the tea is not too bitter, weak, firm, or too sweet.

How to make hot tea in 2 ways

How to make tea with a tea bag

The easiest way to make tea is with a tea bag.

1. You can place a teabag in your cup or mug.
2. Bring cold, fresh water to a boil.
3. After boiling the tea, add the tea bag to the cup and steep according to the the time indicated for your tea variety.
4. Take out the teabag from the cup.
5. Finish with milk or your preferred sweetener (such as honey, agave, or stevia) or a slice of lemon if desired.

How to make loose-leaf tea

Tea infusers are necessary if you want to steep loose-leaf. You can find one in your teapot (such as this AUBCC 32-Ounce Glass Teapot With Stainless Steel Infuser; $16 ), or you could buy a single-serving infuser (such as these Stainless Steel Tea Infusers, $14 Amazon.com) that you can pop into a single cup.

1. For how many cups you require, fill the infuser up with the tea listed on the pack.
2. Bring cold, fresh water to a boil.
3. After boiling the tea, pour the water over the infuser. Or lower the infuser to the pot. Once the tea is brewed, steep the tea according to the instructions.
4. Take out the tea infusers from the cup or the pot.
5. Finish with milk or your preferred sweetener.

These are our top hot tea recipes (including Chai!) )

How to make Iced Tea in 2 Different Ways

Iced tea is most commonly made with black tea. However, it can also be made with green tea, white or herbal tea. This is how to make iced Chai in one serving or a large batch.

Iced Tea for Crowds

1. Bring 4 cups of clean, fresh water to a boil. Next, add 2 tea bags or a tea infuser containing two loose-leaf tea servings.
2. You can adjust the timer to suit your tea type.
3. You can steep the tea for an additional 30-60 seconds if you like a more pungent taste.
4. Mix the ingredients together, and then take out the infuser or tea bags.
5. Stir in your favorite sweetener if you wish.
6. A large pitcher should be filled with 2 cups of water and 2 cups of ice.
7. Please keep it in the fridge.

Iced tea, for one

1. 1. Bring 1 cup of clean, fresh water to a rolling boil. 2. Pour one tea bag or one tea infuser containing one loose-leaf serving.
2. You can adjust the timer to suit your tea type.
3. You can steep the tea for an additional 30-60 seconds if you like a more pungent taste.
4. Mix the ingredients together, and then take out the infuser or tea bags.
5. Stir in your favorite sweetener if you wish.
6. Let cool, and then add ice.

You can make iced sugar sweet tea by adding two tablespoons of sugar to each cup. This Smooth Sweet Tea recipe is an excellent choice for large batches.

How to make cold brew tea

Cold brew tea is an excellent option if you don’t have a stove or microwave that can boil water. Here are the steps to cold-brew tea.

1. Pour 5 cups of loose leaf tea into a French Press with the plunger. This will make 4 cups of cold-brewed tea.
2. Place 4 cups of water on the tea leaves. Cover and let it rest for at least four hours. You can steep your tea for 8 to 12 hours or overnight cold brew tea.
3. Take the fridge, press out, and press the plunger down. Then pour ice over it.
4. Stir in your favorite sweetener if you wish.