How to Make Good Loose-Leaf Tea at Work

The minimum office kit

You don't need much: an infuser mug with a lid, a small stash of pre-portioned tea, and access to hot water. Keeping a mug at your desk rather than in a shared kitchen also cuts down on losing it in the office dishwasher rotation.

• Infuser mug with a lid, so tea doesn't cool while steeping.
• A handful of small jars or resealable bags with tea pre-measured for one cup each.
• A timer app or a simple phone alarm to avoid over-steeping while you're mid-email.
• A backup herbal tea for the afternoon if you want to skip more caffeine.

Prepping tea for the week

On a Sunday, measure out five single-cup portions into small jars or paper bags, one for each workday. This turns your morning routine into 'grab a portion and go' instead of measuring leaf while half awake.

Label jars with the tea name and steep time if you're rotating between more than one type, especially if a coworker might use the same shelf.

Brewing without spilling or forgetting it

Start the steep right when you sit down, and set a phone timer instead of relying on memory — tea left steeping through a meeting turns bitter fast. An infuser mug with a lid also traps heat, which matters more in an air-conditioned office than at home.

Choosing office-friendly teas

Black tea and sturdy oolongs are forgiving if a meeting runs long and your steep goes a minute or two over. Delicate greens and whites are pickier about timing, so save them for days when you can actually watch the clock.