How much tea, water and milk for any number of cups
Good tea depends on proportions. Too little leaf gives a thin, pale cup; too much and it turns bitter. This tea to water ratio calculator works out the grams of tea leaf, millilitres of water and milk, and sugar for one cup or for a crowd, and it covers four drinks: milk chai, plain black tea, iced tea and chai concentrate.
The starting point is about 2 to 3 grams of leaf for every 200 ml of drink, which is roughly a level teaspoon for a mug. You can set the strength to mild, regular or strong, change the cup size from a 100 ml chai cup to a 300 ml mug, and enter any number of cups. Want tea for 50 people? Enter 50 and read the leaf weight and the volume in litres and US gallons.
How to use the Tea & Chai Ratio Calculator
- Choose the drink: milk chai, black tea, iced tea or chai concentrate.
- Enter the number of cups or people and pick the cup size.
- Set the strength, the water : milk split for chai, and the sugar per cup.
- Read the leaf, water, milk and sugar amounts and the total volume, then copy them to your recipe or shopping list.
Tea & Chai Ratio Calculator features
Four drinks
Chai, black tea, iced tea (brewed hot, finished with ice) and chai concentrate.
Crowd sizes
Up to 2,000 cups, with totals in litres, US gallons and US cups, plus tea bag counts.
Adjustable strength
Mild, regular or strong, with the grams per 200 ml shown.
Chai splits
Water to milk at 1:1, 2:1 or 1:2 to suit a light or creamy cup.
Typical starting ratios
| Drink | Leaf per 200 ml | Liquid |
|---|---|---|
| Black tea | 2–3 g (mild to strong) | Just-boiled water, 3–5 min |
| Milk chai | 2.5–3.5 g CTC | Water : milk 1 : 1, simmered 5 min |
| Iced tea | 2.5 g of the final volume | 60 % hot water, 40 % ice or cold |
| Chai concentrate | Same leaf as chai | Brewed in water, mixed 1 : 1 with milk |
Making tea for a crowd
- Allow 150 to 200 ml per person for a hot drink and 240 ml or more for iced tea. For 50 people at 240 ml you need 12 litres, about 3 US gallons, and roughly 150 g of tea.
- Brew the tea without milk and add the milk when serving, so you can adjust it for each guest.
- Strain the leaf after the steeping time. Leaving it in a big pot keeps extracting bitterness.
- Keep hot tea above 60 °C (140 °F) and iced tea cold, in the refrigerator or over ice, to keep it safe and fresh.
- Scale the rest of the menu with the recipe scaler. For coffee, including cold brew, use the coffee ratio calculator.
Why the amounts are approximate
Tea varies. Granulated CTC tea is dense and strong, so a teaspoon of it weighs about 3 g, while large whole leaves weigh much less per teaspoon and need a larger measure. Tea bags are usually about 2 g. Water hardness, the pot and personal taste also matter. The numbers here are well-used starting points: brew one cup, taste it, and move the strength setting up or down.
Tea & Chai Ratio Calculator FAQ
What is the ratio of tea to water?
About 2 to 3 grams of tea leaf for every 200 ml of water for black tea. That is about one teaspoon of leaf per cup, or one tea bag.
What is the ratio of tea to water for milk tea?
The tool uses 2.5 g of leaf per 200 ml of finished drink, brewed in the water part, with a water to milk split of 1:1 by default. Choose 2:1 for lighter chai or 1:2 for a creamier cup.
How much tea do I need for 50 people?
For 50 cups of 240 ml you need about 12 litres (3.2 US gallons) of finished tea and about 150 g of leaf, or 75 tea bags of 2 g each.
How do I make chai concentrate?
Simmer the leaf with spices in the water part for 5 to 8 minutes, strain, cool and keep it in the refrigerator. Mix it with hot milk when you want a cup. The tool shows both amounts.
How do I make iced tea that is not watery?
Brew hot tea with about 60 % of the final volume, then add ice or cold water for the remaining 40 %. The tool shows both volumes.
Is the strength setting a standard?
No, these are common starting points, not a standard. Adjust to your tea and taste.