Here, you will find various methods on how to brew your tea - whether it is by flavor: black, green, oolong, white, red or herbal, or by type: hot tea, sun tea, cold or iced tea.

Hot tea (Loose leaves and tea bags)

Black: To fully appreciate our premium estate black flavored tea, bring fresh, cold water to a rolling boil. Per 8 oz. cup, use one tea bag or 1 teaspoon loose tea and steep to desired strength, usually 2-3 minutes. If preferred, add milk or lemon and sweeten with sugar or honey.

Oolong: This fruity and fragrant tea undergoes partial oxidation, which produces a type of tea that is between black and green teas. Its flavor can be fully appreciated by bringing filtered, cold water to just the boiling point and steeping one tea bag in an 8 oz. cup for 1-3 minutes. For loose leaf, use 1 teaspoon and steep for 3-4 minutes, or to desired taste.

Green: To enjoy this antioxidant-rich tea, heat cold, filtered water just to the boiling point and steep one tea bag in an 8 oz. cup for 2-4 minutes, and steep only 1 minute for 1 tsp. of loose leaves, or according to taste. Sweeten as you like it.

White: This delicate tea is naturally low in caffeine and is believed to contain a higher amount of antioxidants than that in green tea. It is carefully hand picked in small amounts during springtime and is rare and expensive to produce. Often referred to as “The Champagne of Teas,” proper brewing is vital to preserve its exquisitely light and sweet flavor. Bring fresh, cold water just below the boiling point and steep one tea bag per 8 oz. cup for 2 to 3 minutes, no more. For loose white tea, we recommend 1 1/2 teaspoons to an 8 oz. cup and let steep for 1 minute.

Rooibos or red tea: Rooibos (pronounced ‘Roy-boss’), is a unique tea. Unlike other teas, which derive from the Camellia Sinensis plant, this red tea comes from Aspalathus Linearis, a plant found in South Africa. The leaves of this plant are initially green and turn red during the fermentation process. To enjoy this naturally caffeine-free tea’s nutty, sweet flavor, bring fresh, cold water to the boiling point and let cool for 30 seconds. Then, steep one teabag per 8 oz. cup for 5-8 minutes. For loose Rooibos, use 1 1/2 teaspoons per 8 oz. cup and steep for 5-6 minutes.

Herbal tea: Herbals are also known as Tisanes, a combination of roots, bark, dried flowers and herbs. To taste optimum flavor in the large variety of herbal teas, bring water to a rolling boil and place one tea bag in an 8 oz. cup and steep for 5-8 minutes.

Our brew chart, below, provides suggested temperatures and approximate steep times for certain teas. Please note: It is better to add more tea, than to steep longer. If you steep too long, the tea becomes bitter.

How do you know if the water is the correct temperature?
The temperatures are general guidelines and do not have to be exact. However, an important thing to remember is to NEVER use boiling water for green and white teas because they will burn and create a bitter flavor.

To be absolutely certain of the temperatures, there are tea thermometers available or you may use a cooking thermometer. If you do not have either, there is a suggested way to approximate water temperature for green and white teas. First, bring water to a boil, then wait about 30 seconds for white tea, or 60 seconds for green tea, before pouring over the leaves.

Are steep times important?
We provide steep times to help clarify when a particular tea reaches its best strength. These times are only suggested guidelines. You may determine your preferred strength by tasting your tea with a spoon at every minute while it steeps and noting at what point it pleases you. Log your own steep time so you can make the perfect cup at every turn!

Warning: Tea will become bitter if it is steeped for too long.

Cold or Iced Tea

There’s nothing like a refreshing cup of tea, hot or cold! If you are making cold tea, though, here are some helpful hints to make it tasty and look pretty!

Hints: Tea will become cloudy if refrigerated while still warm. Add a little boiling water to clear up the cloudiness. The tannins in tea also cause cloudiness when the tea is brewed in hard water. If you have minerals in your water, use bottled or filtered water.

Cold Brewing
1.     Fill a container with 4 cups of cold water, preferably filtered.
2.     Place 6 tea bags or 6 teaspoons of loose tea and cover tightly with lid.
3.     Place in refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours.
4.     Remove bags or strain loose tea leaves, using a tea strainer, and serve over ice.
5.     Add sugar (simple syrup* is best) or other sweetener (optional).

*To make simple syrup: In a saucepan, place 1 C. sugar into 2 C. water on high heat; bring to a boil, stirring all the while to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and add to tea, according to taste.

Traditional Brewed Iced Tea
1.     Use 4 to 5 tea bags or 1 teaspoon of loose tea of your favorite flavor of Boston & Bentley tea leaves.
2.     Bring 2 cups (32 oz) of cold, filtered water to a boil.
3.     Pour the boiling water carefully and directly over the tea bags or loose tea.
4.     Steep for 4 to 5 minutes.
5.     Remove tea bags or strain out loose tea, using a tea strainer.
6.     Add 2 more cups of cold water
7.     Add sugar or sweetener (optional).
8.     Serve over ice.

Sun Brewed Iced Tea
1.     Fill a clean container with 4 cups of cold water, preferably filtered.
2.     Place 6 tea bags or 6 teaspoons of loose leaf tea.
3.     Cover with lid tightly.
4.     Place in direct sunlight for 2 to 4 hours, depending on desired strength.
5.     Remove tea bags or strain loose leaves.
6.     Sweeten, if desired, and serve over ice.