Inner Garden Botanicals Steeping Guide

THE INNER GARDEN BOTANICALS STEEPING GUIDE

Steeping tea is an extraction ritual. A bit of art, a bit of science - but mostly personal preference.

Heat, time, and the amount of tea you use, all shape the depth, aroma, and body of your cup. Every botanical contains its own density, essential oils, and compounds, and they release at different rates depending on temperature and steep time.

Using enough tea is essential. A single teaspoon can vary wildly in weight depending on the ingredient—fluffy herbs like mint may weigh less than a gram, while cacao nibs or rooibos can weigh several grams. When too little tea is used, the cup tastes thin and flat. When the correct amount is used, the blend opens fully: the aroma lifts, the flavor deepens, and the experience becomes complete.

Most Inner Garden Botanicals herbal blends are designed to be steeped at 4-6 grams of tea per 8–10 ounces of water. This is usually 2 teaspoons, though certain blends can be up to a tablespoon for a fully expressive experience. That said, steeping is wildly personal - I prefer a bolder, more expressive cup. Some people prefer a lighter experience. Be willing to experiment to find your personal preference - you'll learn as you go. Many people like to combine herbal blends as well. Experimentation is fun!

Each blend will come with it's own helpful product card, to help you get the best results for that specific blend, but again these are only suggestions. 

Time and temperature work together.

Temperature unlocks aromatics and essential oils, while time determines how much body and depth is extracted. Too hot or too long results in bitterness and over-extraction. Too cool or too short results in a cup that never fully opens. A few simple guidelines ensure the perfect steep every time.

HERBAL BLENDS (caffeine-free)
— Water temperature: 212°F (Just off the boil)
— Steep time: 8–10 minutes for most, 12-15 plus for therapeutic formulas.
Herbs, roots, flowers, and spices extract best with high heat. The color deepens, the aroma warms, and the cup becomes full and comforting.

BOTANICAL CHAI + SPICE-HEAVY BLENDS (CAFFEINE FREE)
(chocolate blends, chai-style blends)
— Water temperature: 212°F (Just off the boil - let settle)
— Steep time: 10-12 minutes
Most spices need high heat and time to release their oils and warmth, creating a velvety and aromatic cup.

WHITE TEA
— Water temperature: 175–185°F (let boiled water cool 2–3 minutes)
— Steep time: 2-3 minutes for blends. 1-2 minutes for single-varietals using a traditional, multiple infusion steeping style.
White tea is delicate. Lower temperatures protect its soft floral and honeyed notes and prevent bitterness.

GREEN TEA
— Water temperature: 170–180°F (Let boiled water cool 3-4 minutes)
— Steep time: 3-4 minutes for blends. 30 seconds - 1 minute for single-varietals using a traditional, multiple infusion steeping style. 
Lower temperatures keep green tea bright, clean, and clear.

OOLONG TEA
— Water temperature: 185–205°F ( 1 minute off the boil)
— Steep time: 3-4 minutes or 30 seconds - 1 minute using a traditional, multiple infusion steeping style.
Higher heat opens oolong’s layered aromatics and smooth finish.

BLACK TEA
— Water temperature: 200–212°F (Just off the boil-let settle)
— Steep time: 3-4 minutes for blends.  30 seconds - 1 minute for single-varietals using a traditional, multiple infusion steeping style.
Fully oxidized leaves require heat to awaken their rich, malty depth.

PU'ERH TEA

A special note regarding PU'ER tea...

There are two categories of Pu'er tea... raw (sheng) and ripe (shou). Raw Puer tends to be fresh and lively with a bitter edge, while ripe Pu'er is mellow, sweet, full bodied and distinctively lacking in bitterness. I could write a book on Pu'er and much has been written about it! It is a fascinating tea. However, for simplicity's sake, and because it is a personal preference, I only carry Ripe Pu'er at this time. The varietals I chose are impossible to oversteep, and so they are an endlessly versatile tea. You can brew them Gongfu style (brief multiple steepings) or you can place a few grams into a mug or steeping basket and keep topping it off with hot water all day long. (Grandpa style)

Each Pu'er I offer has been painstakingly selected from only the finest and most authentic tea farm partners, so you can be sure that what you are getting is the real deal. 

This can't be overstated enough: Steeping is intuitive. Don't be afraid to experiment. Notice the color, the scent of the steam, and the way the aroma opens. When the tea feels ready, it usually is. With regular steeping and the practice of pouring a mindful cup, you'll quickly learn the art of making the perfect cup of tea, tailored to YOUR preference.