The brewing guide
The art of the steep.
Four rules and you'll never brew a bad cup again.
Start with better water
Filtered, freshly drawn, and never re-boiled. Flat, over-boiled water makes flat tea — no leaf can fix it.
Mind the temperature
Green and white teas scald above 80°C. Blacks, oolongs and pu-erh want it near boiling. When in doubt, cooler is kinder.
Time it, don't guess
Thirty seconds is the difference between sweet and bitter. Use the card that ships with every tea — or your phone.
Weigh the leaf
Roughly 3g per 200ml for a Western pot; more leaf and shorter steeps for gongfu. A small scale changes everything.
Quick reference
Temperature & time, by leaf.
| Tea | Water | Steep | Leaf ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80°C / 176°F | 4–5 min | 4g / 200ml |
| Green | 70–75°C / 158–167°F | 1–2 min | 4g / 200ml |
| Oolong | 90–95°C / 194–205°F | Rinse + 20–40s | 5g / 110ml |
| Black | 95°C / 205°F | 3–4 min | 3g / 200ml |
| Pu-erh | 100°C / 212°F | Rinse + 15–25s | 6g / 100ml |
| Botanical | 100°C / 212°F | 5–6 min | 3g / 200ml |
| Matcha | 80°C / 176°F | Whisk 30s | 2g / 70ml |
Questions
Before you pour.
How long does an opened tin stay fresh?
Kept sealed, cool and away from light, most teas hold beautifully for 6–12 months. Greens fade fastest — drink those first. Pu-erh is the exception: it only gets better with age.
Can I re-steep the leaf?
Absolutely, and you should. Oolongs, pu-erh and good blacks give three to eight infusions, each one different. Add a few seconds to each successive steep.
Do you ship internationally?
We ship across the UK, EU, and US. Rates and estimates are calculated at checkout; orders over £60 / $60 ship free within the UK.
Is everything caffeine-free in the Wildflower collection?
Yes — every tea in Wildflower is a botanical tisane with zero caffeine, safe for the evening or for anyone avoiding it.
Care
The practical bits.
Shipping
Orders are packed by hand and dispatched within two business days. UK standard delivery is 3–5 days; express is 1–2. Free UK shipping over £60. Every parcel is fully tracked.
Returns
Tea is perishable, so we can't accept opened tins — but if anything arrives damaged, stale, or simply not as described, tell us within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you, no fuss.
Contact
The workroom reads every message. Reach us at hello@noctea.co or on Instagram @noctea. We answer within one business day, usually over a fresh pot.