Brewing loose-leaf tea in a cast-iron teapot is a ritual that, thanks to cast iron’s excellent thermal inertia, brings out the full flavor of the tea leaves. If the teapot has a stainless steel strainer, the process is very simple.
📝 Preparation Instructions (Step by Step)
Preheat the teapot:
Pour a little hot water into the empty teapot, swirl it around, and pour it out. This step warms the cast iron so that it won’t cool the brewed tea once you pour it.
Measure out the tea:
Place loose-leaf tea into the stainless steel strainer. For a 600 ml volume, use approximately 2 to 3 teaspoons of tea (about 6–8 grams), depending on the type of tea and your personal preference.
Place the strainer and pour in the water:
Place the strainer with the tea into the teapot and pour in water at the correct temperature (depending on the type of tea—see the table below).
Steeping:
Put the lid on and let the tea steep for the recommended time.
Remove the strainer:
Once the time is up, immediately remove the strainer with the tea leaves. If you leave it in, the tea will become bitter and darken.
Serve:
Gently swirl the teapot to mix the tea, then pour it into cups.
🌡️ Steeping Temperatures and Times at a Glance Different types of tea require different water temperatures to prevent them from burning or becoming bitter:
| Tea Type | Water Temperature | Steeping Time |
| Green tea | 70°C – 80°C | 2 – 3 min |
| White tea | 80°C – 85°C | 3 – 5 min |
| Oolong | 85°C – 95°C | 3 – 5 min |
| Black tea | 95°C – 100°C | 3 – 5 min |
| Herbal/ Fruit | 100°C | 8 – 10 min |
Tip: Thanks to its thick walls, a cast-iron teapot is ideal for black teas, dark oolongs, and herbal teas, because the water cools much more slowly in it than in glass or porcelain.