There are as many ways of brewing good tea as there are of good coffee (maybe more). I've read this before and it is a good jumping off point for typical Englis

There are as many ways of brewing good tea as there are of good coffee (maybe more). I've read this before and it is a good jumping off point for typical English black tea in a teabag. Less good for other types (like green, oolong, or herbal) which should be boiled at a lower temp for most and likely steeped longer, though for some herbals, you just try it out to taste as far as temperature and steeping goes. For teapot and loose leaf, there are a number of other things to consider like whether the pot is cold/lukewarm and how to handle the leaves, etc. Equally important: most off-brand teas in the U.S. are low quality. Lipton in America != Lipton in England/Australia. Also, (as someone mentioned) Earl Grey is actually on the milder end of black teas and may not be a good starter compared to typical Breakfast/Afternoon type teas. In short, Green tea is more aromatic, Black tea has a stronger flavor with a nice finish in the better blends. Earl Grey is more in the middle along with "Gunpowder Green".