Mango Love Not War: Brewing This Fruity Black Tea
By Sourced. Blended. Shared. LMTC | Lake Missoula Tea Co. | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to brew Mango Love Not War black tea for a sweet, tropical cup. Get the right water temperature, steep time, and leaf ratio for hot or iced tea.
Quick answer
Brew Mango Love Not War at 200–212°F (93–100°C) for 3–5 minutes using 1 teaspoon of leaf per 8 ounces of water. This gives you a bright mango-passionfruit cup without bitterness, whether you serve it hot or chilled.
Why temperature matters for this fruity black tea
Black tea needs fully boiling water to extract its full body and aroma. Mango Love Not War is a flavored black tea, so the mango and passionfruit notes sit on top of a sturdy tea base. If you use cooler water, the cup tastes flat and the fruit gets lost. If you use boiling water but steep too long, the tannins take over and the fruit turns sharp. Stick to the upper end of the temperature range and watch your clock.
Hot vs. iced: adjusting strength for cold drinks
Mango Love Not War is great hot or chilled, but iced tea needs a stronger starting point because melting ice dilutes the cup. Brew it double strength—use 2 teaspoons per 8 ounces—and pour it over ice immediately after steeping. For cold brew, use 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of cold water and refrigerate for 8–12 hours; the result is smoother and less tannic than hot-brewed iced tea.
When to skip the sugar
The mango, passionfruit, and cream notes in Mango Love Not War already bring sweetness. Taste before you add sugar or honey—many cups need none. If you do sweeten, add a little while the tea is hot so it dissolves, then chill if serving iced. Over-sweetening flattens the fruit and makes the cup taste like candy rather than tea.
Step-by-step brewing for Mango Love Not War
- Measure the leaf: Use 1 teaspoon of Mango Love Not War per 8 ounces of water. For iced tea, double it to 2 teaspoons per 8 ounces. A kitchen scale is more accurate than a spoon—aim for about 2–3 grams per 8 ounces.
- Heat the water: Bring water to 200–212°F (93–100°C). If you don't have a thermometer, boil and let it sit for 30 seconds. Never brew black tea with lukewarm water—the fruit notes need heat to open up.
- Steep for 3–5 minutes: Pour the hot water over the leaf and start a timer. Taste at 3 minutes; if you want more body, go to 4 or 5. Do not steep beyond 5 minutes. Set a timer—oversteeping is the fastest way to lose the mango and passionfruit.
- Remove the leaf: Strain or lift the infuser as soon as the timer ends. If you used a teabag, take it out. Leaving the leaf in the water keeps extracting tannins and turns the cup bitter.
- Serve hot or chill for iced: Drink hot as is, or pour immediately over ice for a fast iced tea. For cold brew, steep 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces in the fridge for 8–12 hours. For iced tea, brew double strength so the ice doesn't water down the mango flavor.
About Mango Love Not War
- Mango Love Not War: Mango shines with hints of passionfruit and cream. These layered fruit and cream notes mean you can enjoy a sweet, tropical cup without adding sugar.
Mango Love Not War - Mango Love Not War: Great hot or chilled. You can brew one batch and serve it either way, but iced versions need a stronger leaf ratio to survive dilution.
