If your homemade cuppa never tastes quite as good as the one your nan made you, you might be making one surprisingly common mistake: using the wrong amount of tea.

The good news? There’s an easy rule that’s stood the test of time. 

How many teaspoons of tea leaves do you need for a pot of tea?

For the perfect pot of loose-leaf tea, use one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup, plus one extra teaspoon for the pot. So, if you’re brewing four cups, you’ll need five teaspoons of tea.

This old-fashioned formula has been used for generations because it works. The extra spoonful helps account for the water that stays behind in the teapot and ensures every cup is full of flavour rather than tasting weak or watered down.

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Is the ratio the same for all types of tea?

While it’s a great starting point, not all teas behave the same. Delicate white teas and chunky herbal blends often need a little more volume because the leaves are larger and lighter. Finely cut black teas, meanwhile, tend to deliver plenty of flavour using the classic ratio.

How long should you steep tea for?

Another common mistake is leaving the tea to steep for too long. Most black teas only need three to five minutes, while green teas are often ready in two to three. Once you’ve mastered the ratio, you can tweak it to suit your own taste. Prefer a stronger brew? Add a little more tea rather than brewing it for longer.

And when in doubt, just remember that golden rule. It’s still one of the easiest ways to brew a consistently delicious cup of tea.

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