The Ritual · The Brewing Companion

One leaf, more than one cup.

Whole orthodox leaf gives more than a single pour. Choose a tea and the house shows you how it takes water — and how to steep the same leaves again. This is guidance, not a rule; the second steep is where most lots are at their best.

A cup of HOA is not made quickly. It should not be.

Three things decide the cup: the heat of the water, the weight of the leaf, and the patience of the steep. Get these right, and the garden arrives on its own.

The Heat

80–95°C

The green at 80°. White and the oolong at 80–85°. The black leaf at 90–95°. Never a rolling boil — stop the kettle when the small bubbles line the sides.

The Measure

2.5g · 150ml

We give the weight, not the spoonful: a spoon of silver buds and a spoon of black leaf are not the same thing. Two and a half grams to 150ml — one measure, whether you pour a single cup or return to the leaf for a second. Either way, never past five minutes.

The Patience

3–5 min

Three minutes for the green; five for the black leaf and the whites. Decant fully — then steep the same leaf again.

Choose a tea

The ritual · how to pour it

Whole leaf orthodox

Water

90–95°C

Leaf / 150ml

2.5g · 1 tsp

Steep

5 min

Infusions

Once

One unhurried pour, when a single cup is all the moment asks for.

Brew along

First steep

5:00

Advisory, not a rule — trust your own palate over the timer.

The companion

Fresh water, off the boil

Draw water fresh and let it fall just off the boil — greens and whites want it cooler still.

Warm the pot

Rinse the pot with hot water first, so the leaf meets warmth, not a cold wall.

Give the leaf room

Whole leaf needs space to open. A generous pot beats a crowded one.

Trust the second steep

Do not discard the leaves. The second, sometimes the third, is the cup you remember.

Times and temperatures are a starting point — trust your own palate over the timer.