How Much? The Guide to The Amount of Tea Leaves to Brew
Have you ever wanted to brew tea for you and your friend, but ended up throwing most of it away? Do you know how many teaspoons of tea leaves you need to brew enough tea for any number of guests? This is where you need to know the exact amount, because too much and the tea tastes bitter like a herbal decoction, or too little and the tea is bland and tasteless. Brewing tea is an art, but its measurements are a science!
In this article, we will explore how much, in grams or teaspoons, of tea leaves you need for how many people. With this guide, regardless you have a small teapot or a large industrial teapot typically used in restaurants and hotels, you will know exactly how much tea leaves you should brew to get a consistent taste and color, and prevent wasting precious herbs.
Why is Brewing The Right Amount of Tea Important?
We all have a specific ratio for brewing tea in mind, such as half a spoon per person. But the truth is that the type of tea, the size of the leaves, the volume of the teapot, and even the quality of the water impact the taste, aroma, and color of the tea you’re brewing.
As a rule of thumb, the standard amount of dry tea per cup is about 2 to 3 grams, which is about one teaspoon. A typical household teapot has a capacity of 1 liter, which is enough for about 4 people. Therefore, you should add 8 to 12 grams of tea leaves to brew a full teapot.
Of course, these amounts work very well for classic teas like English breakfast tea, but for herbal teas with larger tea leaves, you may need more or less.
How Much for How Many People, That is The Question!
I devised the table below and called it the Golden Table. It is based on my years of experience brewing all sorts of traditional and herbal teas. If you want to know the correct amount of tea leaves, this table tells you everything you need to know. The values are approximate but quite accurate for brewing a tea with the right taste, color, and aroma.
| TEA TYPE | 2-5 GUESTS (1-liter teapot) | 5-10 GUESTS (2-liter teapot) | 10-20 GUESTS (5-liter teapot) | INDUSTRIAL TEAPOTS (12-15 LITERS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Black Tea | 1.5–2 tsp (3–4 g) | 3–4 tsp (6–8 g) | 15–20 g of tea | 35–45 g of tea |
| White Tea | 1.5 tsp (3 g) | 3–4 tsp (6–8 g) | 15–18 g of tea | 35–40 g of tea |
| Most Herbal Teas (green tea, chamomile, lavender, etc.) | 1.5–2 tsp (3–4 g) | 3–5 tsp (6–10 g) | 15–20 g of tea | 40–50 g of tea |
Remember, using a scale is the best way to measure the right amount of tea leaves. A teaspoon may not be the best way to measure. For example, in light teas like white tea or mint tea, leaves are larger but very light. Therefore, a teaspoon may not represent the right amount.
Why Should You Brew The Right Amount Every Time?
If you ask any tea aficionado this question, they will tell you 4 main reasons why you should always brew the right amount of tea leaves:
- It affects the taste: Brewing too many tea leaves makes the tea taste bitter and too concentrated, just like a decoction, but without its health benefits. Brewing inadequate amounts makes the tea tasteless. You may be better off drinking water!
- It affects the color and consistency: Just like overbrewing tea, if you add a large amount to your teapot, it turns out darker than usual. Also, it will be cloudy as opposed to clear. Too few tea leaves and the color is not right, pretty close to water!
- It affects the aroma: Brewing too many tea leaves makes the tea smell strong and unpleasant. On the other hand, not enough tea leaves means your tea doesn’t smell like it should. It won’t smell at all, similar to water, which doesn’t leave a good tea-drinking experience.
- It affects your wallet: Brewing too much is wasteful, and because you didn’t get the result you wanted, you have to brew a new batch again. It’s also the same if you brew too little. In both cases, you’ll run out of tea faster and you have to spend more buy tea leaves.
Simple But Important Techniques
- Always use fresh water: If you boil water multiple times, it loses a lot of oxygen and minerals, which spoils the taste of the tea.
- Know the right temperature: Green tea brews perfectly at 75-80 degrees, but black tea requires boiling water.
- Brewing time is important: Black tea takes an average of 5 minutes, and green tea takes less, around 2-3 minutes.
Conclusion
Brewing good tea is something between art and precision. Although we all have a sense of the amount of tea, when it comes to professional receptions or large gatherings, the measurements must be precise. For 2 to 5 people, about 10 to 12 grams of tea are needed. For 10 people, about 30 grams, and if you want to make tea for 20 people, you should consider about 50 to 60 grams. In industrial tea makers, about 150 to 180 grams are used for 15 liters of water. Remember, these numbers are based on valid standards, but you can still adjust the ratio to your liking through personal testing and experience. A fragrant pot of tea, with the right amount, can set the mood for a party or breakfast! If you are looking for professional tea making, keep this guide always at hand!
