Your first loose leaf tea made simple
Loose leaf tea can look like a lot of hassle at first glance.
You might associate loose leaf with fancy teapots, infusers, timers, and complicated processes.
But the reality is much simpler.
You only need four things:
- Loose leaf tea
- A mug
- Hot water
- An infuser
That’s it. Not complicated at all is it?
Skip the ceremony and specialist knowledge. There's no need to get everything perfect.
In just a few minutes, you get better flavour and a tea break that feels a little more like a proper pause.
The simple method
1. Add your tea
Place your loose leaf tea into an infuser.
As a simple starting point, use around one teaspoon per cup. Some teas need a little more, some need a little less, but the pack will guide you.
Once you know how strong you like it, you can adjust from there.
2. Add hot water
Place the infuser in your mug, then pour over hot water.
Black and herbal teas are usually happy with boiling water. Green tea prefers the water slightly cooler.
No thermometer? No problem. For green tea, boil the kettle, then let it sit for a couple of minutes before pouring.
3. Let it brew
This is the one bit that should not be rushed.
The leaves need time to open, release their flavour and give you a better cup.
As a simple guide:
- Black tea: 3–5 minutes
- Green tea: 2–3 minutes
- Herbal tea: 5–7 minutes
- Fruit blends: 5–10 minutes
The pack will always give the best guidance for your tea.
4. Remove the infuser
Once the tea has brewed, take the infuser out of your mug.
That’s your loose leaf tea made.
Now pause for a minute and enjoy it.
Do I need a teapot?
No.
A teapot is lovely if you want to make more than one cup, but you do not need one to start.
The easiest option is a simple infuser that sits inside your mug. Add the leaves, pour the water, wait a few minutes, then lift it out.
It is loose leaf tea without the fuss.
What if I get it wrong?
The world collapses.
Not really. You probably won’t get it wrong.
But if your tea doesn't taste quite right, there are usually three easy fixes.
If it tastes too weak, use a little more tea or steep it slightly longer.
If it tastes too strong, use a little less tea or shorten the brew.
If it tastes bitter, the water may have been too hot, the tea may have brewed too long, or you may have used more leaves than needed. This is especially common with green tea.
Loose leaf is not about perfection. It is about finding the cup that tastes right to you.
Which Stead tea should I start with?
The easiest way to choose is by moment.
For your everyday cup: SteadFast
SteadFast is the familiar one. A bold, reliable black tea for mornings, desk breaks and the moment you want a proper cup.
Start here if you usually drink English breakfast tea and want something fuller.
For a bright pause: Sunny Green
Sunny Green is fresh, fruity and easy to enjoy. It brings together green tea and pineapple for a cup that feels light, bright and gently uplifting.
Brew it hot for a simple afternoon pause, or cold brew it when you want something refreshing.
For the evening: Sunset
Sunset is a gentle chamomile tea for the quieter end of the day.
It is caffeine-free, soft and made for slower moments: the sofa, the book, the bedside table, the point where the pace starts to drop.
The easiest way to start
If you are new to loose leaf, start simple.
Choose one tea that fits your usual routine, or try a bundle so you can find your favourite moment.
Stead is here to make loose leaf feel easy, full of flavour and worth pausing for.
Tea. Hot water. An infuser. A few minutes.
That is all you need.
Sip some calm.