Brewing guide

Brew it so it's never bitter.

Five short tables. The whole difference between great Darjeeling and angry Darjeeling is here.

Bitterness almost always comes from one thing: hot water sitting on the leaf for too long. Darjeeling especially likes restraint — 95°C, three minutes, no longer. Here's the cheat sheet by style.

By style.

  • Black

    Darjeeling Second Flush

    Round, fruity, a clean brisk finish.

    Water
    95°C, just off the boil
    Leaf
    1 tsp (~2.5g) per cup
    Steep
    3 minutes
    Resteep
    Once more, +30s
    Best with
    Neat. Milk optional.

    Tip — Bitter? You steeped too long — drop a minute.

  • Black

    Darjeeling First Flush

    Light, floral, almost green in character.

    Water
    85°C
    Leaf
    1 tsp per cup
    Steep
    2 minutes
    Resteep
    Once, +30s
    Best with
    Neat. Never milk.

    Tip — Cooler water than second flush. The leaf is delicate.

  • Green

    Darjeeling Green

    Bright, grassy, gently sweet.

    Water
    75–80°C
    Leaf
    1 tsp per cup
    Steep
    2 minutes
    Resteep
    Twice, +30s each
    Best with
    Neat, between meals.

    Tip — Boiling water turns green tea bitter. Let the kettle settle.

  • Chai

    Masala Chai

    Spiced, full, the daily kadak.

    Water
    Bring to boil with leaf
    Leaf
    1 heaped tsp per cup
    Steep
    4 minutes total
    Resteep
    Fresh leaf each time.
    Best with
    Milk and a little sugar.

    Tip — Boil milk and water together; add tea last; simmer two more minutes.

  • Wellness

    Tulsi & herbals

    Calming, caffeine-free.

    Water
    100°C (boiling)
    Leaf
    1 heaped tsp per cup
    Steep
    5–6 minutes
    Resteep
    Once, +1 min
    Best with
    After dinner. Honey optional.

    Tip — Cover the cup while steeping — keeps the volatile oils in.

A few small things that matter.

Filtered water, off-boil. Hard tap water tastes like hard tap water. A jug filter changes the cup more than the leaf does.

Warm the pot. A splash of hot water, swirled and dumped, keeps your brew temperature steady.

Don't squeeze the bag. Bitterness lives in the very last drop.

Loose leaf beats bags every time. Especially with second flush — the leaf needs space to open.