Herbal teas are delicious hot or cold. Regardless of how you take your tea, follow the steps below and then add ice for cold tea. If brewing for iced tea, consider using a stronger batch of tea as the ice will dilute the flavor.

If making a pot of tea, preheat the teapot by pouring boiling water into it, raising the temperature of the teapot to at least 180°, then discard the water. Add 1 teaspoon of loose tea for each cup of tea you're brewing.

If using a filter or an infuser, place 1 teaspoon of loose tea for each cup of tea you're brewing into the basket, and then place it in the cup or infuser bottle.

Pour fresh boiling water into the pot or over the tea in the infuser (works the same for tea bags). This super-saturates the tea, allowing the perfect extraction of the flavor. The water temperature should be as close to boiling as possible. Let the tea steep for a full 5 minutes or more. You can adjust the amount of tea or the steeping time according to your desired taste.

If brewing loose tea in the pot, pour the tea through a strainer into the cups.