Anyone can submerge a tea bag in some water, but not everyone realizes that there's an art to brewing tea. If you’re an avid tea drinker, these surprising tips will help you to make that daily cuppa even better.

1. Start with high quality tea leaves. If you’ve ever wondered if the quality of your tea makes a difference, most experts would say that it absolutely does. Use a tea that comes from a quality tea garden, inspect the leaves to make sure that they aren’t the dusty leftovers from after the tea has been processed, and then store your tea in an air-tight container.
2. Boil your water. Experts recommend using filtered spring or bottled water. For most teas you’ll want to heat it to a rolling boil, but delicate white or green teas require water that's just shy of boiling.
3. Know your steep times. How long you should steep your tea depends on the type of tea that you’re making. White tea bags should steep for only 30 to 60 seconds, green teas for one to three minutes, and heartier black and oolong teas can steep for three to five minutes.
4. Pour and enjoy. Your tea will be very hot, so let it sit for approximately one minute to cool. Then find a cozy spot to sip and enjoy.

Make a Perfect Brew [UK Tea & Infusions Association]
Home Brewing for the Best [Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc.]
How to Make Tea [Teavana]
How to Brew Hot Tea [The Republic of Tea]

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