How to Make Tea in a French Press — with Recipes

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Maybe you’ve asked yourself if it’s possible to use your French press for tea. The answer is, Yes! In this post, we explore Tea in a French Press — both why and how, with a variety of basic recipes.

Whether using tea from the traditional tea plant or fresh or dried herbs, turns out, tea made in a French press is beautiful, life-giving and a wonderful way to make tea.

Why use a French Press instead of a tea pot

It’s actually logical to use a French press for making tea!

The French press strains loose tea leaves, whereas a tea pot requires either tea bags or a strainer. (Most tea pots do not have fine strainers.)

So, the French Press is one tool that does it all. (The other options require two tools.)

The French press encourages: Loose leaf tea

Many tea aficionados would approve of making tea in a French press.

That’s because it encourages the use of loose leaf teas, which are considered far superior to bagged teas. (Tea bags contain leftovers broken bits of tea leaves that are inferior in quality. Amazingly, the bags themselves often have some level of toxicity with glues and various non-edibles used to make them.)

The main tip when using a French press: Allow room for the leaves to float around while they’re steeping. This advice is easy and natural to follow, as the leaves are not plunged down until after they’ve steeped.

For space to steep, a French press is pretty similar to a tea infuser, and much better than a tea ball.

French press to make tea: Beauty

With functionality covered, French presses also allow us to see what we’re about to drink. They invite us to be a part of the steeping process.

And they let all diners know visually, what’s for tea! We can see what kind of tea we’re about to drink.

With some tea varieties, this is actually quite beautiful, and tempting.

A few simple examples of beautiful teas include: fresh mint leaves, hibiscus and chamomile.

(When we visited my daughter and her husband abroad last April, among other ingredients and herbs, they steeped lemon slices, mint and hibiscus as lovely after-dinner teas, all in their French press.)

Hot Tea in a French Press: Variety

The window into our steeping ingredients invites one thing more: We are sometimes attracted to the idea of making medleys: Combine different herbs or ingredients!

Now, we look into our French press, and instead of seeing one ingredient, we might see two or three, creating a beautiful new flavor to savor and talk about while we sip.

French press tea: Easy to ice it!

One more reason to make hot tea in a French press is that it’s easy to ice it after steeping.

Or, make iced tea by using cool water; never heat it. Just set it out in the sun to steep, or put it in the fridge overnight.

Hot Tea in a French Press: Stop the steeping process

Lastly, using a French Press to make tea is a great idea because it gives us more control over how long we steep our tea or herbs.

Loose leaf tea in a tea pot continues to steep in the full amount of water, making the tea bitter and stronger in flavor with time.

The French Press allows us to press down the solids. In turn, the bulk of our tea is perfectly steeped and does not get stronger with time — as we sit and sip.

Yet, we still have the freedom to add more hot water, to make a second pot, and renew the steeping process.

When not to use a French press to make tea

If your French press is not cleaned well, and it’s usually used for coffee, then don’t make tea with it.

The sticky oils of coffee leave behind their flavor, which will ruin any good cup of tea.

Just be sure to wash your French press well before making tea with it.

Or have a designated French press pot just for making tea.

Hot Tea in a French Press: How to

It depends how much of a perfectionist you are, how you make tea!

Half of all tea makers aren’t too picky: Just add hot water, steep, and enjoy.

The other half really care about the temperature of the water, how much tea to use exactly and how long to steep.

I’m going to give you the more detailed instructions, but if you’re one who prefers a less finicky cup, by all means: Just add hot water, steep for however long you like, and enjoy!

French Press tea recipes — How much tea to add, temp of water and steeping times

Depending on the variety of tea you choose, the recipe changes for how much tea to add, what temp the water should be and steeping times:

How much loose tea to add to your French Press

Below a variety of teas are listed with the amount to use for each French Press pot — which holds about four cups of hot water.

I first list dried teas, and then fresh herbs that may also be steeped (beautifully) to make tea.

DRIED TRADITIONAL TEA (Any tea from the camellia sinensis plant.)

For 4 cups hot water (or a 34-ounce French press), use 4 to 8 teaspoons loose tea, to taste (or 1 to 2 slightly heaping Tablespoons).

To make a smaller portion, or single serving: For every 8 ounces hot water, use 1 to 2 teaspoons loose tea.

• Black teas — The ideal temperature for water to steep black tea is 212°F (boiling): Steep 3 to 5 minutes before pushing down plunger.
  • Here‘s a good quality and affordable black tea.
• Green tea — The ideal temperature for water to steep green tea is 175 to 180°F: Steep 2 minutes.
  • Here‘s a good quality and affordable green tea.
• White tea — The ideal temperature for water to steep white tea is 180°F: Steep 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Here‘s a good quality and affordable white tea.
• Oolong tea — The ideal temperature for water to steep oolong tea is 190°F: Steep 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Here‘s a good quality and affordable oolong.

Troubleshooting: If your tea is ever too bitter, it means you’ve likely over-extracted. Next time, use water that is less hot, or steep for less time.

HERBAL DRIED TEAS

For 4 cups hot water (or a 34-ounce French press), use 2 slightly heaping Tablespoons loose herbal tea, to taste.

To make a smaller portion, or single serving: For every 8 ounces hot water, use 1 to 2 teaspoons loose tea. Heat water to 185°F, or up to boiling (212°F).

• Herbal tea with chopped small leaves or pieces (such a dried loose mint, chamomile or medicinal herbs): Steep 4 to 5 minutes.
• Flowers with strong flavors (like lavender): Steep only 1 to 2 minutes.
• Herbal teas that need more time, sometimes with big or tougher pieces (such as hibiscus, calendula and elderflower): Steep 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Try this delicious Hibiscus-Ginger Tea.

FRESH HERBS and other solids: Use 4 cups boiling water (212°F).

• Fresh mint leaves (or similar, like lemon verbena): Use 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (slightly packed to measure), or about 5 sprigs. Steep 10 minutes.
• Fresh ginger root, grated: Use 2 Tablespoons. (I don’t use ginger slices because they don’t yield enough flavor. But you can dice or mince ginger root, instead of grating it. Grating creates the juiciest, spiciest tea.) Steep 10 minutes.
• Whole lemon slices: Squeeze in the juice, then add whole slices or wedges, before adding boiling water. Drink immediately, or steep 10 minutes for more lemon rind/oil flavor. (Ice overnight for increased lemon rind flavor.)
• Fresh rosemary: Use 1/4 cup. Steep 10 minutes.

Print Recipe

5 from 6 votes

Tea in a French Press

Maybe you've asked yourself if it's possible to use your French press for tea. The answer is, Yes! In this post, we explore Tea in a French Press -- both why and how, with a variety of basic recipes.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Afternoon tea, Tea

Cuisine: American, Asian, British, European, French, middle eastern

Keyword: black tea, French press, green tea, herbal tea, how to make, oolong tea, tea, white tea

Servings: 4 8-oz servings, or less, as needed

Calories: 1kcal

Author: Megan

Cost: .50

Equipment

• French press
• tea pot/kettle or saucepan, for boiling water

Ingredients

• 32 ounces hot water temp depends on tea variety: See Notes below. (To make a smaller portion, or single serving: For every 8 ounces hot water, use 1 to 2 teaspoons loose tea.)
• 4 to 8 teaspoons bulk tea amount depends on tea variety and personal taste. Use the larger amount designated for a stronger, darker brew.

Instructions

• In tea kettle or saucepan, heat tea to boiling or preferred temperature based on tea variety (see Notes below).
• While water heats, measure loose leaf tea (or herbs) into French press.
• Pour hot water over tea. Place lid over French press, but don't press down the plunger yet. Steep for designated time (see Notes below).
  
• Press down plunger. Serve.
  

Notes

Tea water temp and steeping times

• Black teas
  1. Bring water to a boil. Steep 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Push down plunger. 
     • Here's a good quality and affordable black tea.
• Green tea
  1. Heat water to 180°F. Steep 2 minutes.
  2. Push down plunger.
     • Here's a good quality and affordable green tea.
• White tea
  1. Heat water to 180°F. Steep 1 to 2 minutes.
  2. Push down plunger. 
     • Here's a good quality and affordable white tea.
• Oolong tea
  1. Heat water to 190°F. Steep 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Push down plunger. 
     • Here's a good quality and affordable oolong.

Troubleshooting: If your tea is ever too bitter, it means you've likely over-extracted. Next time, use water that is less hot, or steep for less time.

Herbal tea amounts, water temp and steeping times

See main article above this recipe card for all the herbal tea recipes and instructions.

Nutrition

Calories: 1kcal | Potassium: 37mg

Hot liquids other than water to use in a French press

• Use leftover hot tea to steep new ingredients: I like to use Organic Barley Tea over fresh mint leaves. But other examples include pouring black tea over lemon or orange slices.
• Pour hot non-dairy milk over spices like crushed/powdered cardamom, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg etc. Steep 10 minutes. After steeping, add to mug with honey or sweetener of choice.
• Use homemade Meat Stock or Bone Broth. Pour over saffron, freshly grated ginger, toasted cumin seeds or toasted dill seeds etc.
  • To buy the best pasture-raised bone broth powder, use code MEGAN15 for 15% off at checkout here.

Which French press to get

Be sure to choose borosilicate glass and a model with as little plastic as possible.

You want mostly glass and stainless steel.

Here’s a good, tried and true French press.

How to clean your French press after making tea

The best way to clean your French press after making tea is:

1. Fill it halfway with hot water.
2. Add a couple drops of dish soap.
3. Pump the plunger up and down several times to swish, clean and loosen any solids caught in the screen. Use a sponge as needed on the glass. Rinse well.
4. If any additional bits are caught in the screen, instead of dumping the soapy water and rinsing: Lift screen/plunger slightly in the soapy water, and allow it to sit for one to a few hours immersed in the water (this softens and loosens the bits and works really well). Then plunge up and down again briefly, and rinse well.

What to boil your hot water in

Read Safest Non Toxic Tea Kettles for 2024 (Plastic-free) here.

You can Pin Tea in a French Press here:

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