How do I prepare this brick tea compared to loose herbal tea?

This product comes as a compacted brick, which is different from loose tea in a few practical ways. First, you need to break off a piece. You can use a sturdy tea pick, knife, or even your hands to separate a portion suitable for your teapot or cup, typically starting with a piece about 1-2 centimeters square.

The brick format helps preserve the aroma and flavor of the fermented leaves and berries. When brewing, you'll find it often opens up more slowly and gently than loose leaf. For a first infusion, use freshly boiled water, but you don't need to use as much leaf volume by weight as you might with loose tea; the compacted form steeps efficiently. Start with a short steep of 2-3 minutes, then taste.

One of the appreciated aspects of brick tea is that it often withstands multiple infusions well. You can pour hot water over the same piece several times, with each steep potentially revealing different layers of the flavor profile, from the initial tangy sea buckthorn notes to the deeper, earthier base of the fermented fireweed. This makes it suitable for a longer, slower tea session.

After brewing, store the remaining brick in its original packaging or an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from strong odors to maintain its quality.