Recommended Measurements

[Pookatropolis]

Everywhere I look it says to use 1 tsp of tea leaves per cup of water +1 for the pot and steep for 5 minutes. This seems like overkill to me. For my black tea, I use either 1 or 2 tsp. of leaves for my 4-cup teapot, steep for 4 minutes, and that, in my opinion, makes the perfect pot of tea. Any more and it becomes overpowering like coffee. How come everyone else likes to use gratuitous amounts of tea leaves?

[Pookatropolis]

I forgot to include, one of the main reasons I thought to ask was this post I saw in another thread:

1-1.5tsp per cup is way too little for you.

I would normally suggest twice that, but for you I recommend 2-3 times. And if you can't taste that, then fill your teapot half-way up with leaf, and the rest of the way with water. Then get help.

[kymidwife]

Just goes to show, there is no right or wrong when it comes to brewing tea... there is only what you personally appreciate. I go heavy on leaf, shorter on brew times, and reuse my leaves as many times as they'll last... not a traditional gongfu style, but certainly not a 4 or 5 minute English-style steep either. I arrived at my own personal brewing style by trying other people's suggestions to expand beyond what I already knew, and I found out what tasted best to me... and what didn't.

Sarah

[olivierco]

Everywhere I look it says to use 1 tsp of tea leaves per cup of water +1 for the pot and steep for 5 minutes. This seems like overkill to me. For my black tea, I use either 1 or 2 tsp. of leaves for my 4-cup teapot, steep for 4 minutes, and that, in my opinion, makes the perfect pot of tea. Any more and it becomes overpowering like coffee. How come everyone else likes to use gratuitous amounts of tea leaves?

It depends on the type of tea and its density, especially when measuring it with a spoon.
It depends also if you brew your tea with one long infusion or with some shorter consecutive steeps.

[Pookatropolis]

I like whipping up a big ol' pot of tea (usually 4 to 6 cups) and slowly drinking each cup, refilling it when it gets about half way to warm it back up and replenish my supply.

[Victoria]

If your method is perfect stick with it, by all means!

Much of the other leaf ratio amounts you read about here is not
for English teapots.

Don't worry you're fine.