Materials
Tea Pot (Preferably Tetsubin)
Tea cups
Tea strainer
Loose leaf tea
Water
Microwave and microwave safe cup
Teaspoon
Oven mitts
Thermometer

Step 1:

1. Fill your tea pot with about 12 ounces of water (a cup and half).

Step 2:

2. Pour the water from the teapot into microwave safe cup.

Step 3:

3. Make sure cup fits in microwave and if not pour into cups that do.

Step 4:

4. Place microwave safe cup into the microwave and heat to boil. Typically 3 min per 8 oz of water.

Step 5:

5. While the water is reaching a boil, open your tea and measure out your tea using a teaspoon. (Note: Depending on the size of your teapot, you will only need 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 ounces of water, so for this project, use one and a half teaspoon of tea)

Step 6:

6. Place measured amount of tea into the tea strainer.

Step 7:

7. Open the top of the teapot and place tea strainer into the top of the teapot.

Step 8:

8. Once the water is boiling and steps 4-6 are complete, remove the water from microwave. (Note: water and steam will be very hot use oven mitts)

Step 9:

9. If you are making Oolong tea go to step 10, Green tea go to step 11, Black tea go to step 12, Red/Rooibos tea go to step 13, White tea go to 14.

Step 10:

10. Oolong Tea is best steeped (left in the hot water) at 190 F for 5 to 8 minutes

Step 11:

11. Green Tea is best steeped (left in hot water) at 150-160 F for 2-4 minutes (Note: Green tea is very fragile if left in water longer than 4 minutes then the tea will become bitter)