Real questions from real tea drinkers, answered in about a minute each. These come from my live Q&As and from messages I get over and over. If you've ever wondered it, someone else has too. Grab a cup and browse.
— Nonna
Download Nonna's Brewing Chart (PDF) — every tea type, its temperature, and its steep time, all on one page.
How do I brew a cup of loose-leaf tea?
It really is quick and easy. Put 1 teaspoon of tea (2.5 grams) in a nice roomy basket infuser — the leaves need space to expand — pour fresh boiling water over the top, and steep. For a black tea like Serene Sunrise, that's 3 minutes for the first brew. Lift the basket out and enjoy — then brew the same leaves twice more, adding a minute each time.
Why does my green tea taste bitter?
Nine times out of ten, it's the water. Boiling water (212°F) scorches delicate green tea leaves, and steeping too long pulls out bitter tannic acid. Green tea wants 175°F water and a short steep — about 1 minute, or 2 minutes for our fruit blends. (It's also why grocery-store tea bags taste bitter no matter what you do: they're filled with dust and fannings, the harshest part of the leaf.)
How do I cool boiling water down for green or white tea?
There's a little trick from a café in Tokyo. Boiling water poured into a room-temperature ceramic mug gives up about 18°F to the ceramic — pour it into a second mug and you lose another 18°, landing right around 175°F, perfect for green tea. Two pours, no thermometer, no gadgets. Delicate white teas are worth the same care — boiling water flattens their flavor.
How many cups are in an ounce of loose-leaf tea?
More than you'd think. One ounce brews 10–11 first cups (1 teaspoon, 2.5 grams, per cup) — and our teas are high enough quality to brew three times, so that same ounce gives you 30–33 cups total. Just add a minute of steep time with each brew: 3 minutes, then 4, then 5.
How long does loose-leaf tea keep? How should I store it?
Tea doesn't spoil easily, but it does fade — after about a year, even well-stored tea loses the flavor you paid for. Keep it airtight, dry, and away from light and strong smells; a well-sealed packet or a truly tight tin both work. And the most important rule: drink your tea. Don't hoard it like a dragon — buy what you'll enjoy this season.
How do I make a tea latte?
Brew your tea hot and a little strong, and stir in any sugar or syrup while it's hot. Warm your milk gently — no hotter than about 140°F — froth it, and spoon the foam over the tea so you get those pretty layers. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon (lovely on Serene Sunrise) and you've saved yourself a coffee-shop run.
And who's answering all these questions?
I'm Nonna. I grew up drinking bedtime tea with my grandparents, who came here from Britain — that nightly cup is where this whole business comes from. Highland Dawn is my recreation of that childhood tea. Today I blend every Nonna's Kitchen Secrets tea in small batches in Kansas, with organic ingredients and real freeze-dried fruit — never sprayed-on flavors.
Have a question for Nonna?
Wondering something about tea that is not answered above? Ask me, and your question might become the next Ask Nonna video.