Tea brewing temperature & steep time chart
Starting points for western-style brewing in a mug or teapot. Taste, then adjust one variable at a time.
| Tea | Water | Leaf | Steep | Re-steeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green tea | 75 °C / 167 °F | 1 g per 60 ml | 1:30–2:00 | 2–3 |
| Black tea | 95 °C / 203 °F | 1 g per 80 ml | 3:00–4:00 | 1–2 |
| Oolong tea | 90 °C / 194 °F | 1 g per 60 ml | 2:30–3:00 | 4–6 |
| White tea | 80 °C / 176 °F | 1 g per 50 ml | 4:00–5:00 | 2–3 |
| Pu-erh tea | 98 °C / 208 °F | 1 g per 50 ml | 2:00–3:00 | 4–8 |
| Matcha | 80 °C / 176 °F | 2 g per 70 ml | whisk 15–20 s | none |
| Herbal tea & rooibos | 100 °C / 212 °F | 1 g per 80 ml | 5:00–7:00 | 1 |
More tea guides
Brewing a little differently? See gongfu brewing, cold brew tea and all our guides.
No thermometer?
Water cools roughly 10 °C in the first couple of minutes after boiling in an open kettle, though it depends on the kettle and volume. A safer trick: mix one part cold water with four parts boiling water to land around 80 °C (176 °F). A variable-temperature kettle is the single most useful upgrade. More methods: water temperature without a thermometer.
Water matters
Use fresh, filtered water. Very hard water dulls flavour and leaves a film on black tea; very soft or distilled water can taste flat. Don’t re-boil water that has sat in the kettle.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should water be for tea?
Green tea 70–80 °C (158–176 °F), white tea 80–85 °C (176–185 °F), oolong 90–95 °C (194–203 °F), black tea, pu-erh and herbal tea 95–100 °C (203–212 °F).
How long should tea steep?
Green tea 1–2 minutes, black tea 3–4, oolong 2–3, white tea 4–5 and herbal tea 5–7 minutes or more.