1. Read the brewing recommendations on the underside of the tea tin. (general water temp and steeping time)
2. Heat water to recommended temperature (usually boiling, or nearly boiling water).
3. Steep (place tea in hot water) for the recommended steeping time.
4. Remove the leaves from the water. Enjoy! 

For the Red Square Perfect Cup:
The art of making tea begins when you put the kettle on the stove.

A tea kettle is different from a teapot in that the kettle is only used to heat the water.

• The temperature of the water varies for each specific tea. For black tea use boiling water straight from the stove. For green tea use hot, but not boiling. If you missed the moment before the water started boiling, it is not a big deal - let it cool for a couple of minutes or add some cool water and it should be ready to go.

• For the perfect cup of tea there are two options to choose from:

Option 1: Pour some hot water over the tea leaves and drain immediately (you can use the strainer for this). This process intensifies the flavor by opening up the tea leaves and releasing some of the bitterness. This also decreases steeping time to 1-2 minutes.

OR Option 2: Rinse out the inside of the teapot with some hot water from the kettle, then place the tea leaves inside. Pour the hot water from the kettle on the leaves and cover; 3-5 minutes is usually enough time to steep the tea if you didn’t pre-rinse the tea leaves.

• The steeping time is very important. If it steeps too long, it becomes bitter with a harsh aftertaste. If it is too short, you won't get the full aroma and flavor of the tea.

• When finished steeping, pour the tea into cups through a strainer; it prevents leaves and other debris from getting into the cup. Some people don't mind small pieces of leaves floating in the cup. If this is the case, then a strainer is not necessary. Now you are ready to unwind and enjoy a cup of tea.

When you want to make only one cup of tea or just bypass the teapot, follow the same instructions. However, we recommend hanging the strainer on the inside of the cup with the tea leaves sitting in the water and the top of the strainer just above the surface of the water. Or, instead of a strainer, you can use a tea ball, infuser, or some other device that will hold the loose tea and allow for the expansion of the leaves.

By using these tips you will get an aromatic and enticing cup of tea! We hope these hints will be helpful and you will choose what method makes for the tastiest tea. We would love it if you would share with us your brewing suggestions, or simply leave us a comment or ask questions through our contact form or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .