Along with writing, I sell loose leaf tea and do a lot of talking/teaching on the subject. Although loose leaf tea isn’t complicated, many people don’t know how to get started, yet you really only need two items to begin drinking loose leaf tea.

First, you need an electric kettle. But not just any electric kettle,  you need to make sure it’s equipped with temperature controls. That’s because teas vary in temperature settings. I drink a lot of Japanese tea, which usually steeps at 160 degrees. Most greens are 170. Then you have oolongs at 190, while black and herbals usually steep at 200-212 degrees.

I bought my kettle at Target years ago for $30, and it’s lasted a long time. I even travel with it, as I have to have tea wherever I go. (Update–My Target kettle died, and I replaced it with a $40 one from Target. I couldn’t go a day without one.) However, my friend bought a kettle while we were on vacation last year, and she spent $60 at Walmart. I don’t recommend that. You’ll find some Amazon links at the bottom of this post with some I found. You can read the reviews and decide for yourself. Since I travel with mine, I don’t buy glass ones.

Along with your kettle, you need a steeper. I have these on stock and sell them locally, but they have them on Amazon as well for less than $20. You just put a spoonful of leaves in the steeper, pour hot water over them from your kettle, and wait the amount of time. Then you release the tea into your mug, run some cold water over the used tea leaves in your steeper, and place it in the fridge for the next steep. You can get more than one steep from most tea leaves, and I usually drink the same leaves throughout the day, along with a matcha or chai break.

Once you have these two items, you’re ready for your tea leaves, but I suggest you use distilled or filtered water in your kettle. I filter my water at home, and I travel with a jug of distilled water with my kettle. If you have any questions, comment below, and I’ll get back to you.