People just realising they are have been making tea wrong this whole time

As a nation of tea lovers, it might come as a shock that some of us have been brewing our cuppas all wrong.

Arthur Gautier of Nio Teas, a brand specialising in Japanese green teas, says the secret to a perfect brew lies in balancing time and temperature. He explained: "Each type of tea needs to be brewed using its own distinct method to bring out its best flavours."

To help you avoid any tea faux pas, Arthur has shared the correct brewing methods for various types of tea, including black, white, green and oolong. Follow his tips, and you'll be a tea connoisseur before you know it.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

How to make the perfect cup of tea Black tea

Black tea, known for having the highest caffeine content among all teas, is a popular choice for a morning brew. While it originates from China, there are now many other black teas available, such as Indian Darjeeling and Assam and Sri Lankan Ceylon.

For the ideal cup, Arthur recommends brewing in water that has reached 200-212F / 93-100C, and letting the tea steep for three to five minutes.

He added: "For a richer flavour, don't rush the steep! However, longer steeping adds more caffeine and can turn the tea bitter, so experiment to find your sweet spot."

Green tea

Green tea has become increasingly popular in recent years, and Arthur has the lowdown on the variety of flavours available: "The flavour can range from sweet and floral to slightly grassy or even nutty, with Chinese and Japanese varieties each offering distinct profiles."

"Sencha, Dragonwell, and Matcha are some popular green tea types, with Matcha standing out as a powdered version of the whole leaf."

For those brewing up a storm with green tea, Arthur recommends keeping the water just off the boil at 160-180F / 71-82C and steeping for a mere two to three minutes to avoid a bitter brew.

White tea

Touted as the most delicate tea, white tea hails primarily from China's Fujian province and is celebrated for its understated sophistication.

Arthur's tip for a perfect cup of white tea? Let the boiled water cool to 160-170F / 82-93C before steeping for four to five minutes.

Oolong tea

Oolong, a traditional favourite in China and Taiwan, strikes a balance between green and black tea in its processing.

Arthur's brewing advice for oolong enthusiasts is to use water that's cooler than what you'd use for black tea, around 180-200F / 76-82C, and to steep it for three to five minutes. He also notes that oolong leaves can be steeped multiple times to extract a more complex flavour profile.